Ardbeg Smokiverse

Ardbeg Smokiverse

Region: Islay

ABV: 48.3%

Price: £95.00

The 2025 Fèis Ìle Ardbeg bottling—also known as the Ardbeg Day release—is Smokiverse, the first expression from Ardbeg made using spirit created from a high gravity mash. In simple terms, this means Ardbeg used less water than usual during mashing and added extra grain instead. They claim this process has “drawn in fruitier, sweeter flavours from the deepest corners of the mash tun.” And to be fair, that might well be true.

However, this technique is often avoided, or at least very carefully managed in single malt production as it can negatively impact flavour if not handled properly. While it’s true that high gravity mashing can produce a fruitier, more complex spirit, it also carries the risk of generating more sulphur compounds and a spicier profile during fermentation. No age statement or bottle count has been released, and there’s also no information provided on the cask types used.

Anyway, let’s dive into the dram and see whether this latest Ardbeg experiment is a success—or a misfire.

Nose

The nose opens with the expected peaty notes: ash, tobacco, burnt toast, and dried earth. There’s more alcohol spice than we expected given the ABV, and the overall profile leans more savoury than sweet. That said, there are hints of flat lemonade, vanilla essence, and, in the background, maize, peaches, and pomegranate. It’s still recognisably Ardbeg. It’s a touch one dimensional, but pleasing enough.

Palate

The mouthfeel is good for the ABV, but still a touch thin. It’s also a bit spicier than we’d prefer, especially given the ABV. Up front, there’s peat... earth, tar, ash, leather, and cloves followed by barley sugars, orange marmalade, dark chocolate, honey, lavender, and cooking apples. On the finish, the spice returns, mingling with the smoke, and there’s more peppercorn heat than we’d personally like. The finish has good length, but the spice stays longer than the other notes. Again, like the nose this lacks complexity.

Nose (with water)

With reduction, the nose is initially relatively unchanged, but given a little time, more ash, earth, dried peanuts, and toffee begin to emerge. There’s still a touch too much spice, and it continues to lack a bit of needed complexity.

Palate (with water)

The palate has picked up a burnt coffee bitterness and remains a touch spicy. The mouthfeel is relatively unchanged, but the finish feels shorter. There’s less peat now, though a bit more sweetness is starting to come through.

Conclusion

This feels like a step back after the more fan-friendly Eureka release... lower strength, a higher price point, and a wave of fluffy marketing to sell the bottle. But it’s not all doom and gloom. While we’re not personally getting the “awe-inspiringly fruity Ardbeg” that was promised, there are definitely flavours here we enjoy. We can also forgive the spicier than expected palate, but our overall enjoyment is held back slightly by the thin mouthfeel and lack of complexity. Had this been bottled at cask strength, we’d probably have rated it half a point higher but as it stands, we’re going with a 7.

Score: 7/10

Value

One of the benefits of high gravity mashing—though not mentioned by Ardbeg—is the increased alcohol yield per mash. That does make us wonder why this release is only bottled at 48.3%, carries no age statement, and is significantly more expensive than the last Committee Edition, Ardbeg Eureka. Perhaps there’s a valid reason for the higher price, maybe this is a much older whisky, but based on the limited information provided, it feels like we’re heading in the wrong direction price-wise, especially following Eureka’s more reasonable pricing.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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