Distillery Notes:
There’s an appetite for all things rare on Islay. Especially at Ardbeg. You’d think that the rare nature of our whisky would be enough, but it’s Islay and her oddities that really stir us.
The Ardbeg Anthology Collection is inspired by tales of unbelievable encounters – legendary brushes with the strangest creatures ever purported to stalk Islay.
Inspired by the seldom-seen Harpy – a winged beast said to inhabit Islay – this legendary edition is a first for the Distillery. The Harpy’s Tale has been matured for 13 years in rare Sauternes wine casks and married with classic Ardbeg ex-bourbon. After over a decade in the cask, soaring smoke swoops into sweetness as Ardbeg’s unmistakable character wrangles with the richness of the Sauternes casks. A supreme aged expression…the taste almost as sensational as the tale.
92 Proof
Tasting Notes:
Nose: Very distinctively oily, with touches of extra virgin olive oil, sweet briar wood, aromatic herbs (coriander & sage) and a suggestion of smoked lemon peel. A splash of water releases more oiliness, like linseed oil, a gentle waxiness, and a burst of perfumed, aromatic carbolic soap, and finally, a whiff of crème brulee.
Palate: A soft, oily, mouthcoating texture leads into a rich, sweet, smoky palate, with hints of oak moss, treacle, aniseed lozenges and a lovely, sweet, woody/balsamic flavour. This is then followed by smoked apricots and eucalyptus oil.
Finish: Finally comes a lingering, sweet/smoky aftertaste, with a touch of cumin, cardamon and the merest hint of coconut.
Awards/Reviews
Double Gold - SF World Spirits Competition 2024
Gold - Intl Spirits Challenge 2024
92 Points - Intl Wine & Spirits Competition 2024
"Tangy citrus fruit dances with smoky peat while a hint of medicinal smoke adds depth. Palate is perfumed, with a refreshing finish of peppermint."
Grade: A- (Drinkhacker)
"With The Harpy’s Tale, Ardbeg has crafted another winner. The nose offers a fairly traditional chimney soot profile with quite a slug of camphor in the mix...lightly minty, with some barrel char notes showing. On the palate, the whisky immediately showcases a much softer side, with notes of green table grapes, coconut water, and lemon curd — all informed by a rather gentle layer of smoke. Notes of grapefruit peel lead into an increasingly bright finish that evokes the honeyed, apricot-laced quality endemic to Sauternes. Mildly sweet but not overblown, there’s a suggestion of chocolate and even a touch of coffee bean on the finish, making for a complex but completely effusive and enjoyable experience."
