By PEAKLIFE
Ardbeg Day, held annually on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt (Fèis Ìle), made a grand entrance in India this year with the “Dark Circus” celebration at Mumbai Airport. The event featured the highly anticipated launch of Ardbeg Spectacular, the distillery’s first whisky aged in port casks. This limited-edition release was unveiled in style at the inaugural Travel Retail Ardbeg Day at Ospree Duty Free on May 31, 2024.
A Global Celebration
Throughout June, travellers at Mumbai International Airport are invited to partake in the ‘Dark Circus’ at Ospree Duty Free. This celebration is more than just a tasting event; it is an immersive experience filled with engaging activities, outlandish games, and peaty delights that promise to leave a lasting impression on whisky aficionados. The grand prize? A once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Ardbeg Distillery in Scotland for one lucky participant.
Smriti Sekhsaria, Marketing Director at Moet Hennessy India, expressed her delight at hosting this unique event. “We are thrilled to be hosting the world’s first-ever Ardbeg Day Travel Retail celebrations in Mumbai at Ospree Duty Free! Ardbeg has a strong base of loyalists in India, and we are delighted to bring them a wonderful flavour adventure with Spectacular. We look forward to hosting travellers in our Dark Circus at Mumbai International Airport through the month of June as they discover the dramatic world of Ardbeg.”
The Tasting Notes of Ardbeg Spectacular
The tasting notes of Ardbeg Spectacular are as intriguing as its concept. With an ABV of 46%, the whisky boasts a sunset orange hue. The aroma is a curious blend of fragrant lavender, vetiver, and incense candles, layered with deeper notes of leather, wax, and rich almond nuttiness. A splash of water reveals subtle wisps of wood smoke and damp peat moss, while hints of menthol dive into rich antique leather. On the palate, it delivers a viscous mouthfeel bursting with an array of salty, sweet, and savoury flavours, including peat smoke, eucalyptus oil, minty chocolate, toffee, smoked pecans, creosote, tar, sweet pear crumble, and fudge. The finish is long and lingering, with a finale of salted caramel and cooling menthol.
The mastermind behind Ardbeg Spectacular, Master Blender Gillian Macdonald, shared her enthusiasm for this unique creation. “Ardbeg Spectacular is a high-flying spirit, very befitting of Ardbeg Day. Its years in bourbon and port casks create a spectacle of flavours, the likes of which Ardbeggians will never have tasted before. We invite fans to roll up and feast their palates on its peculiar notes of mint chocolate, incense, lavender, and smoked nuts, set off by a daring double act of salted caramel and tar. Like the finest performances in the circus ring, this is a whisky not to be missed.”
In India, Ardbeg Spectacular is exclusively available at Ospree Duty Free in Mumbai International Airport. This limited-edition release not only represents a milestone for Ardbeg but also a spectacular addition to the portfolios of discerning whisky collectors.
