The Islay based Ardbeg distillery, has today announced the launch of a new limited-edition release, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee – which was formed by a group of enthusiasts, after the distillery was saved from the brink of extinction.

Ardbeg Eureka! (52.2% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky, which was produced by combining whisky aged in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks, with roasted malt spirit matured in Bourbon casks.

A quarter-century ago, a committed group of enthusiasts formed the Ardbeg Committee. Its mission was to prevent the doors of the Islay Distillery from ever closing again. Ever since, its membership (now 200,000-strong) have endlessly debated the ins and outs of the whisky they revere as The Ultimate Islay Single Malt.

Recognising the zeal of the Committee’s deliberations, Ardbeg’s whisky makers invited a select group to a hidden corner of the Distillery on Ardbeg Day 2023, to take part in an experiment named Operation Smokescreen. At the event, 100 members from 15 different countries, a cross-section of Ardbeg’s diverse, global fanbase, tasted and discussed five extreme (and secret) examples of Ardbeg. Then Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald took the findings back to their sensory laboratory, challenging themselves to craft a bottling representing the Committee’s multi-faceted preferences.

After months of experimentation, the pair skilfully combined whisky aged in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks with roasted malt spirit matured in bourbon casks in a uniquely complex dram. Salted crispy seaweed and sweet cinnamon jostle with dark-chocolate-coated raisins and burning embers, reflecting the Committee’s eclectic tastes. Thrilled to have succeeded in their experiment, they named their creation Ardbeg Eureka!

Ardbeg Eureka!, is said to deliver notes of cherry, red apple, caramel, coffee grounds, cocoa powder, heather bonfire, hand rolled sweet tobacco leaves, cedar and fennel on the nose. Followed by notes of nut toffee brittle, raisin fudge and dark fruits, chocolate coated raisins, chicory, cinnamon, applewood, medicinal iodine, burnt moss and ash on the palate.

Commenting on the news, Gillian Macdonald, said: “Operation Smokescreen was a brilliant opportunity to get inside the minds of the Ardbeg Committee – and has inspired our most bespoke Committee bottling yet. With its medley of flavours, from cherries and red apples to briny seaweed and bonfires, topped with cinnamon and raisin fudge, Ardbeg Eureka! is packed with a variety of flavours, inspired by our eclectic group of Committee members’ tastes, who are united by their love of Ardbeg’s smoky and fruity balance. There was a real eureka moment when, after countless experiments, Dr Bill and I landed upon the perfect recipe.”

Ardbeg Eureka!, will be available exclusively to Committee members on Ardbeg.com from February 27th, for a RRP of £72.00. A small number of bottles will also be available to buy in person at the distillery.