Ardbeg has revealed a new bottling which celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee. Ardbeg Eureka! was made with input from the Committee, and is exclusively available to its members.

The Ardbeg Committee was founded in 2000, not long after the distillery was acquired by Glenmorangie, having been near extinction. The aim for the Committee was to ensure that Ardbeg would not be at risk again. Twenty-five years later, the Committee has 200,000-plus members worldwide. Those who join as members have exclusive access to its regular Committee exclusive bottlings, as well as becoming part of the distillery's community.

In 2023, on the distillery’s annual Ardbeg Day, a group of 100 Committee members from 15 different countries were invited by Ardbeg’s whisky makers to take part in the mysteriously named Operation Smokescreen. The group tasted and discussed five “extreme” examples of Ardbeg whisky, seeking the ultimate Ardbeggian flavour.

Having made note of the Committee members’ feedback, Ardbeg director of whisky Dr Bill Lumsden and master blender Gillian Macdonald began crafting a bottle based on the Committee’s tastes.

The resulting single malt whisky is Ardbeg Eureka!: a combination of spirit aged in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks with roasted malt spirit matured in bourbon casks, the latter carefully selected by Lumsden and Macdonald to complement the flavours of the Pedro Ximénez cask matured whisky. Tasting notes shared by Ardbeg highlight salty seaweed, sweet cinnamon, dark chocolate-covered raisins, and burning embers. 

Committee chair and Ardbeg distillery visitor centre manager Jackie Thomson said: “The Committee have been the lifeblood of Ardbeg for a quarter of a century — you won’t find a more passionate bunch of smoky malt lovers anywhere else. Ardbeg Eureka! is an exuberant reward for our members’ dedication. Slàinte mhath to 25 years of the Ardbeg Committee!”

Macdonald added: “Operation Smokescreen was a brilliant opportunity to get inside the minds of the Ardbeg Committee – and has inspired our most bespoke Committee bottling yet… Ardbeg Eureka! is packed with a variety of flavours, inspired by our eclectic group of Committee members’ tastes, who are united by their love of Ardbeg’s smoky and fruity balance. There was a real eureka moment when, after countless experiments, Dr Bill and I landed upon the perfect recipe.”

Ardbeg Eureka! is bottled at 52.2% ABV and is available exclusively to Ardbeg Committee members via Ardbeg's website. To join the Committee, visit ardbeg.com/en-gb/committee.