Ardbeg BlaaacK

About This Competition

Ardbeg Blaaack was created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee and marks the very first time the distillery used New Zealand Pinot Noir wine casks for maturation. The “Blaaack” name plays on Ardbeg’s reputation as the “black sheep” of Islay, while nodding to New Zealand’s famous sheep population. Released on the last day of the Feis Ile in 2020 , traditionally known as Ardbeg Day, the Blaaack is housed in a striking all-black bottle rather than their usual green bottles.

Unlike traditional European sherry or port casks, the New Zealand Pinot Noir oak added distinct, jammy red fruit notes (like smoked cherries and raspberries) without over-sweetening the heavily peated Islay malt.