Awaken Your Senses,
Unleash The Smoke
Ardbeg Distillery
Peat, you either love it or hate it! That smoky, malty goodness can be overwhelming for those who don’t know. But for those who do know, Ardbeg is the true master of smoke. From the history, distillation, purification, fermentation, and Ardbeg’s flavor profiles, National Brand Ambassador, Cameron George is the man to learn from. As we say in this industry of infinite whisky making tactics, the man “knows his shit.” Ardbeg is lucky to have him!
“Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky and is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is known for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.” ~ mastersofsmoketour.com
Cameron is currently on a national Masters of Smoke tour in his awesome mobile Ardstream bar, a converted Airstream trailer, presenting us with the full Ardbeg experience. On tour, the whisky universe made sure Cameron crossed paths with Whiskey Network at Chicago’s 2024 WhiskyX event. Presented by iGo Marketing & Entertainment LLC., this event presented over 60 whiskies, other spirits, Alec Bradley cigars, and awesome food trucks.
As I stumbled through the heavy WhiskyX crowd of whisky lovers, I was drawn to a very energetic Cameron. He was excited to run me through a sampling of Ardbeg 10, Wee Beastie 5, Uigeadail, and Ardbeg 19. The classic 10 is salty peat over sweet lemon, with cinnamon spice on the finish. The Wee Beastie 5 is a mind blowing young Scotch. It is full of herbal character with hints of coffee and BBQ notes on the finish. The Uigeadail, which is Gaelic for “a dark, mysterious place,” has an incredible balance of smokiness, sweetness, spice, and everything nice. Finally, the Ardbeg 19 is meaty, delicate, and ashy, yet fruity on the finish; a super delicious and very special dram!
To top off the Ardbeg experience, we stepped into the mobile trailer. Here Cameron had me close my eyes and nose each of the five smoky profiles of Ardbeg.
Cameron is so knowledgeable and explained each smoky Ardbeg profile perfectly:
Medicinal: “Our medicinal smoky whiskies conjure the nostalgic spirit of Islay peat used in the malting process, imparting distinctive medicinal qualities that wake the resting soul inside you.”
Coal: “Coal smoke whisky adds a powerful dimension to your dram, making each sip a bold, nostalgic memory that lasts long after the bottle is empty.”
Herbal: “Herbal smoke adds elements of nature and earthiness to whisky, accompanied by subtle sweetness and floral undertones that take you on a seasonal adventure.”
Wood: “Our wood smoke reminds me of crackling campfires with aromas of charred oak barrels, sweet vanilla, and woody caramel.”
Savory: “Savory smoke is reminiscent of smoked meats, explosive spices, salted snacks, honey-glazed meat, roasted nuts, and umami.” For me, this savory aroma was like opening a refrigerator and taking a whiff inside.
Cheers to the Masters of Smoke team over at Ardbeg Distillery, and thank you Cameron for an amazing peated Scotch whisky experience!
Special thanks to our Whiskey Network photographer, James Archie, aka ‘Jimmy Snaps’
