By Vanessa Cavasinni, editor Australian Hotelier
At this year’s annual celebrations, where Ardbeg Day became Ardbeg Night, a limited edition single malt whiskey was launched – Dark Cove.
The Ardbeg Night event was held globally on 28 May, playing on Ardbeg’s dark history of smuggling and the illicit whisky trade on the Islay coast in the 1800s.
In celebration of this history, the limited release Ardbeg Dark Cove was launched at the event, which Michael Heads, Ardbeg Distillery manager described as “pay[ing] homage to the shadowy past of Ardbeg’s coastline.”
Ardbeg Dark Cove is a limited edition single malt whisky that is non-chill filtered and bottled at 46.5 per cent ABV.
Its nose is described as initially meaty, earthy and spicy before opening up into strong notes of dark chocolate, orange, treacle and coffee. The mouthfeel is almost tart, with raisins, dates and ginger giving way to smoky charcoal. The finish is long and spicy, with notes of toffee, coffee and tar.
Ardbeg Dark Cove is available from specialist whisky stores, with an RRP of $169.