Plunge into uncharted Islay intensity with Ardbeg Heavy Vapours – Committee Release 2023, created for Fèis Ìle (Ardbeg Day) 2023. For the first time in the distillery’s modern history the spirit was distilled without Ardbeg’s iconic purifier, allowing the “heavy vapours” usually sent back into the still to surge into the spirit. Matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks and bottled at a punchy 50.2 % ABV, this limited-edition whisky delivers a deeper, thicker style of Ardbeg peat—denser smoke, darker sweetness, and an enveloping coastal power that defies expectation. Only available to Committee members, Heavy Vapours is a bold experiment that rewrites the rules of Ardbeg’s house style.
Why We Think You’ll Love It:
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First Ardbeg distilled without the purifier, unleashing an unprecedented concentration of heavy, smoky vapours.
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Matured solely in ex-bourbon casks, balancing dense peat with creamy vanilla and citrus sweetness.
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Committee-only Fèis Ìle 2023 bottling, released at 50.2 % ABV and non-chill-filtered for maximum power and texture.
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A collectible dram that expands the boundaries of Ardbeg’s flavour profile—perfect for peat aficionados eager to taste the distillery’s boldest experiment to date.
Bottle Information
Bottle Information
Bottler: Distillery
Cask Type: bourbon cask matured
ABV: 50.20%
Type: Single Malt Scotch
Region: Islay
Volume: 70cl
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes
Nose: Swirling chimney soot and tarry rope collide with notes of creosote-smoked vanilla, candied fennel, and a tang of seaweed-flecked brine.
Palate: Viscous waves of charcoal embers, cracked black pepper, and liquorice root give way to sweet barbecue glaze, scorched marshmallow, and flashes of lemon bon-bons.
Finish: Long, ashy, and warming—lingering camp-fire smoke, a touch of salted dark chocolate, and a final coastal breeze of peppered sea-spray.
