Ardbeg Distillery had announced a new Committee-only release, the Ardbeg Fermutation. This limited edition 13-year-old single malt Scotch highlights the impact of the longest fermentation in Ardbeg’s history. The release date for the Ardbeg Fermutation is February 1st 2022 for most countries (more information below).
Already leaked last year through the American TTB Database, the Ardbeg Fermutation is the result of a happy accident from 2007, which is when a boiler broke down. It led to an unplanned experiment, as six washbacks with tens of thousands of litres of fermented wort sat waiting to be distilled. Upon instruction of Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, the distillery team opened to washback lids. In the end it took three weeks before the boiler was repaired and distilling could commence.
Dr Bill Lumsden commented on this experiment in a prepared statement. “I’ve always wanted to experiment with longer fermentations, so I think an unintentional boiler breakdown was the best thing that could have happened. For context, most Ardbeg is only fermented for 72 hours, making three weeks unchartered territory for us.”
“The outcome is a dram that tastes like pure science fiction. Peat and smoke meld beautifully with fresh, floral flavours, while sharp, more malty notes give Ardbeg Fermutation a uniquely zingy profile.”
“Blind luck is sometimes just part of the way we do things here at Ardbeg,” added Colin Gordon, Ardbeg’s Distillery Manager. “But the creation of Fermutation wasn’t simply good fortune. Quick thinking, ingenuity and a little assistance from tiny beings in the atmosphere helped us get here. At 13 years old, this is of course an aged Ardbeg – something I’m sure our fans will be delighted to get their hands on.”
Ardbeg Fermutation Official Tasting Notes
Nose: Fresh, floral, herbal and tart. Hints of mixed herbs and cedar wood. Very zesty, vibrant, hints of smoked orange and grapefruit, lots of menthol and peppermint. With water, powerful bursts of diesel oil, tar, fresh paint and aniseed. As this dies down, a memory of freshly cut hay, and the tiniest hint of something savoury, like yeast extract or bread dough.
Taste: A lively, vibrant, sharp, ‘zingy’ texture, leading into very firm, distinctive flavours – malty/biscuit tones, powerful aniseed, cardamom, antiseptic lozenge, sweet mint toffee and cigar ash.
Finish: Finally, a lingering, salty, firm aftertaste of mint, tar, oak tannin & leather.
Ardbeg Fermutation Release Date & Price
The Ardbeg Fermutation won’t be available worldwide. And depending on where you live it’ll be available sooner rather than later. Check the full list below to see if you can get your hand on a bottle.
1st February 2022 — UK (including Northern Ireland) / Italy / Japan / USA / Russia / Poland
3rd February 2022 — Sweden
8th February 2022 — Germany / Austria
10th February 2022 — France
12th February 2022 — Taiwan
15th February 2022 — China
1st March 2022 — Australia
During March 2022 — Canada
The Ardbeg Fermutation is priced at around €180 or equivalent locally. It will be available to Ardbeg Committee members only, who will receive an email on the day.
Available ardbeg fermutation