Ardbeg have revealed their latest premium single malt, inspired by one of the Islay distillery’s most revered releases.
Ardbeg The Abyss is a 34 year old whisky that utilises the same casks used in the 2008 Corryvreckan Committee Reserve. A 1989 vintage that had been finished in “ultra-active”, heavily toasted French oak casks, the original Corryvreckan ranks among the most sought after and well-loved Ardbeg releases ever.
Most of these casks were used for the 2008 release, however a small number were held back at the distillery for further aging. And thus, more than 15 years later, The Abyss was born.
The press release for The Abyss is predictably hyperbolic: “A whisky reborn. Its legend retold. Ardbeg The Abyss is destined to become a legend in its own right. Never to be repeated.”
It’s certainly bold to claim that any whisky is “destined” for greatness, especially when they’re deliberately associating it with a fan favourite such as the original Corryvreckan, but we admire the confidence.
In describing The Abyss, it’s noted how over the course of the extra maturation the “Corryvreckan is transfigured as intense new flavours emerge from its mysterious depths. Its raw power transformed by space and time.” According to the official tasting notes, this roughly translates as toasted marshmallows and tea leaves, with notes of dark chocolate, pecan, leather and creosote.
Another possible translation is ‘we’ve found a way to capitalise on nostalgia for old Ardbeg while tying it in with our contemporary Ardbeggian nonsense’, but I digress.
With just 400 bottles available, the Ardbeg Abyss is expected to cost £21,250.
Ardbeg fans who have had their interest piqued by The Abyss but whose pockets, like my own, aren’t that deep, may be keen to know that there will be special edition bottles of Corryvreckan available exclusively at the distillery. 1,000 bottles featuring four uniquely designed labels will be released. However, these bottles will hold the current Corryvreckan liquid and no RRP has been revealed yet.
For a whisky with such a hefty price tag, consumers would understandably expect The Abyss to come with something a little extra. And on this front Ardbeg delivers; The Abyss comes with a comic book and a big tin can.
The Abyss is presented in a unique “space capsule meets diving chamber”, complete with port hole windows, gauges and a crafty locking system. While it draws inspiration from the whirlpool at the heart of the Corryvreckan story, the decanter and its presentation might fall short of expectations when splashing out five figures on a whisky.
As for the accompanying comic, that was written by leading artist Tradd Moore and reimagines the tale of the Corryvreckan.
Legend has it that the Viking prince Breacan anchored his ship for three days and nights to impress the Lord of the Isles’ daughter. Unfortunately, he was eventually sucked into the whirlpool. Moore’s retelling takes a more fantastical route, taking us on a journey through the sea, space, and time
Interestingly, the Ardbeg website points out that Moore’s work is “highly collectible”, possibly in hope off adding a semblance of value to those unimpressed by graphic novels and celtic legends.
Of course, Ardbeg are no strangers to extravagant presentation or an otherworldly story. Let’s not forget, these are the guys who literally sent whisky into space.
We’re sure many will also remember the infamous Ardbeg Double Barrel, a pair of 1974 vintage Ardbegs presented in a luxury leather shotgun case. Certainly an eye-catching and beautifully presented piece, but it didn’t help Scotch whisky’s negative perception as a drink reserved for tweed-wearing men in country clubs.
Which begs the question, are the gimmicks worth it?
Perhaps I’m being an old-fashioned purist, but I like to think whisky should be about the whisky. A nice story, a fancy bottle, or a wallet-bursting price tag might catch my eye, but they ultimately won’t determine whether or not I actually enjoy the whisky.
Coming back to The Abyss, it does sound like a great dram. An Ardbeg where the youngest spirit is from 1989 is enough to get many folks’ tongues wagging. Add in the interesting cask make up and we could be onto a winner.
I can understand why they want to closely associate a new release with an old favourite, but the cynical part of my brain feels like it’s a bit of a cash-grab. The press release describes both The Abyss and the 2008 Corryvreckan as “unrepeatable”. If that’s really the case, holding them in the same regard is a little unfair, even if they are born from the same casks. Being a fan of one of these whiskies does not mean you’ll be a fan of the other.
As for the accoutrement that comes with the Abyss, the comic and the chamber don’t really add anything to the whisky. No disrespect to the artist or the craftsmen, no matter how thematically appropriate these extras are it’s hard to say they enhance the whisky (did the Ardbeg 1974 taste better on a hunting trip? I doubt it).
The counter argument is that there is so much great whisky out there that brands rely on these stories and unique bottles to truly stand out. If everyone is making great whisky, then nothing can be truly ‘special’.
Naturally Ardbeg aren’t the only brand doing this. One notable example is Macallan and Bowmore collaborating with top-end car manufacturers Bentley and Aston Martin respectively. Both of these distilleries are capable of producing excellent whisky and already have a loyal fanbase, but they are nevertheless using these collaborations to bolster their brand. Associating themselves with these luxury producers in turn raises their profile.
Ultimately, a lot of whiskies from such collaborations are destined for someone’s collection. They can fundamentally be seen as an antique or an art piece - the enjoyment comes from owning and observing your prize.
In cases like that, these premium whiskies benefit from their extras - the decanters, presentation boxes, additional artefacts. These enhance the whole offering, rather than the whisky itself.
So maybe I’m misunderstanding the whole deal with The Abyss and my ‘whisky purism’ comes from a place of jealousy. It’s well beyond my means and I know it’s unlikely I’ll ever get to try The Abyss, so it’s easy for me to take shots at its exaggerated marketing and silly little can.
Hopefully at least one of the 400 bottles does get opened though. Ardbeg have talked a big game with the The Abyss, and we need to find out if it has actually earned the right to be held in the same regard as the legendary whiskies from the brand’s past.
