Ardbeg The Unicorn's Tale limited-release 

Ardbeg has released a new limited-edition single malt whisky to the Australian market: The Unicorn’s Tale. The second release in its Anthology Collection of rare and strange single malts, The Unicorn’s Tale is the first whisky from the Ardbeg distillery that has been matured in a mix of Madeira and bourbon casks. 

The release has been aged for 14 years prior to bottling, resulting in an intriguing blend that the distillery says takes smoky-malt lovers on a flavour-filled canter through powerful bursts of smoke, notes of banana, menthol and lime. 

Ardbeg The Unicorn’s Tale follows on from the first Ardbeg Anthology Series release: The Harpy’s Tale, which was the first Ardbeg whisky to champion Sauternes sweet white wine casks.

“The Unicorn’s Tale is the second release in this series, which has been created by marrying classic Ardbeg matured in bourbon casks with a parcel of whisky wholly matured in sweet Madeira wine casks,” said Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation. 

“The outcome is a whisky bursting with notes of banana bread and tropical fruit, fused with Ardbeg’s hallmark flavours of camphor, lime zest and wood smoke. This 14-year-old whisky may appear sweet in nature, but its smoky side is not to be underestimated!”

Ardbeg The Unicorn’s Tale is bottled at an abv of 46% and is available for purchase at $250. 

The tasting notes provided by the distillery are as follows:

Colour: Pure Gold

Aroma: Rich, sweet, aromatic and fruity, baked banana bread and syrupy sponge pudding fill the senses. Notes of treacle trot into a distinctive suggestion of burning cedarwood. A splash of water releases a bounty of tropical fruits. Eucalyptus oil mingles with soft, aromatic smoke. 

Taste: Zesty notes of lime and sweet peaches canter across the palate. A burst of rich smoked fruit and baked bread prance into antiseptic lozenges, creosote, and aniseed. Soft barley malt combines with nutmeg and peat smoke. 

Finish: The influence of these rare Madeira casks is undeniable. A whimsically smoky finish welcomes a long and lingering aftertaste of menthol, clove, wood smoke and camphor.