Ardbeg Kildalton 2014
70 cl. / 46 %
Single Islay Malt Whisky
Distillery Bottling
Ardbeg Kildalton has been launched to raise money for The Kildalton Project, which is part of the North Highland Initiative (NHI) – a charity inspired by the “sustainable” vision of Prince of Wales that seeks to support “fragile, rural communities” across the North Highlands.
The project, a collaboration between the Ardbeg Distillery, owned by The Glenmorangie Company, and the NHI, will help build a new community hub in Port Ellen.
Exclusively available from the Ardbeg Distillery, limited edition Ardbeg Kildalton is named after the iconic 1,200-year-old Kildalton Cross.
Tom Campbell, CEO of the NHI, will head the project team working with the South Islay Development board.
“We are delighted to have The Glenmorangie Company as a new partner and it is exciting to be involved here on Islay as it extends the original scope of the North Highland Initiative and the vision of His Royal Highness Prince Charles in promoting sustainable communities,” said David Whiteford, chair of The NHI.
“The Kildalton Project will bring alive this vision in a vital island community and is the kind of project where we can add support and expertise to already hard working rural community groups.”
Bottled at 46% abv and non chill-filtered, Ardbeg Kildalton has been created by Dr Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie, using a range of ages and styles of Ardbeg matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.
“Ardbeg Kildalton is a rather curious whisky, created from an interesting cask selection,” said Lumsden. “Sublime whiskies from two carefully selected years have been chosen for their juxtaposed, but complementary styles.
“A blessed marriage of firm, smoky, but creamy Ardbeg from Bourbon barrels with rather racy, spicy whiskies from new and refill Sherry casks has given a harmonious union of bold, colourful flavours.”
The small, remote Scottish island of Islay (pronounced 'eye-lah') is an antique land. A wild and untamed place, where Celtic monks found refuge from raiding Norsemen and early distillers smuggled their illicit ‘aquavitae’ at Ardbeg’s rugged rocky cove. Abundant soft water, fertile soil and acres of precious peat makes this Island a place of pilgrimage for the single malt whisky faithful. Ardbeg prides itself on being the 'Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky'. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts widely available. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as 'the peaty paradox'.
