Experimental Single Malt Coils Designer Casks’ Sweetness Around Ardbeg’s Hallmark Herbal Tones

Aged 15 years, Ardbeg The Beithir’s Tale is the finale to Distillery’s Anthology series of mythical malts

Ardbeg Islay single malt whisky today unveils an aromatic and creamy 15-year-old limited edition – the finale to its Anthology series of rare and strange single malts. Named after a mythological, serpent-like beast, Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale is the Distillery’s first whisky matured in designer bourbon casks. Crafted to Ardbeg’s particular specifications, these casks wind full-bellied flavours of smoked butter and vanilla round the whisky’s classic notes of menthol and pine.

Ardbeg Anthology is a trilogy of unusual single malts which cross classic Ardbeg with experimental stock to create sweeter, more delicate tones. Capturing the “hybrid” characters of these whiskies, each malt’s name and packaging are inspired by a different mythological creature said to have been glimpsed on Islay. The bad-tempered beithir may (or may not), have once slithered through an Ardbeg warehouse.

Years ago, the Distillery’s whisky creators laid down a parcel of Ardbeg in designer bourbon casks, eager to explore their effects on its smoky, balanced spirit for the first time. Air-seasoned – rather than kiln-dried – then heavily toasted and lightly charred exactly as they asked, these bespoke casks promised to bring fuller, creamier flavours to Ardbeg. Matured for 15 years, the experiment has reached a sweet and aromatic peak. The Beithir’s Tale overflows with these buttery notes, balanced by Ardbeg’s hallmark smoky tones and sharp tangs of eucalyptus and pine.

The Beithir’s Tale completes the Anthology series, joining The Harpy’s Tale – a 13-year-old marriage of classic Ardbeg with the Distillery’s first whisky matured in Sauternes sweet white wine casks – and The Unicorn’s Tale, aged 14 years, which unites bourbon-matured Ardbeg with whisky wholly aged in Madeira wine casks.

Master Blender Gillian Macdonald said: “We are always pushing the boundaries of Ardbeg to discover even more flavour combinations. The sweet and smoky ‘hybrids’ of Ardbeg Anthology are as experimental as they come.

“Created from whisky matured in our designer casks, The Beithir’s Tale is the aromatic and sweet finale of our Anthology series. Named after a mythological, serpentine beast, this 15-year-old whisky invites notes of vanilla and smoked butter to slide through Ardbeg’s classic aromatic flavours of peat smoke, fennel, eucalyptus and pine. Rather like the beithir, it is smooth and mysterious… with a smoky, menthol bite!”

Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale has been recognised with the Spirit Gold Outstanding 2025 award (98 points) at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition and a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge.

Priced at £135 with an ABV of 46%, Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale will be available for purchase on ardbeg.com, in Ardbeg Embassies, at the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay and in selected whisky specialists.