Ardbeg, the fiercely distinctive Islay distillery revered for its smoky single malts, is reinforcing its position in the luxury whisky conversation with the release of three limited edition expressions. Available exclusively at Hank’s in Kuala Lumpur, the new offerings are part of Ardbeg’s prestigious Maison portfolio, which underscores the brand’s ongoing focus on innovation, craftsmanship and collectability.
New Additions
Headlining the release is Ardbeg Smokiverse, unveiled to mark a landmark year for the distillery, celebrating 25 years of the Ardbeg Committee. First released on Ardbeg Day during Fèis Ìle, the whisky is the distillery’s first to be crafted using a pioneering high-gravity mash — a technique that reduces water during mashing to amplify flavour-active esters.
Aged in bourbon casks, Smokiverse delivers a brighter, fruit-forward take on Ardbeg’s signature peat, with notes of muscovado sugar, toasted sourdough and ripe tropical fruits.
Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, describes the expression as “a new frontier of flavour”, combining classic peat smoke with unexpected sweetness and vibrancy — a nod to the brand’s much-lauded “peaty paradox”.
Rounding Up The Anthology
Also arriving is the final chapter of the Ardbeg Anthology trilogy, The Beithir’s Tale (15 Years Old). The distillery’s first whisky matured in bespoke “designer” bourbon casks, the expression explores softer, creamier dimensions of Ardbeg’s smoky DNA.
Air-seasoned, heavily toasted and lightly charred, the casks lend vanilla, smoked butter and gentle sweetness, layered against familiar notes of peat, eucalyptus and pine. The release has already earned top honours, including a Spirit Gold Outstanding (98 points) at the 2025 International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Completing the trio is the final release of Ardbeg 19 Years Old – Traigh Bhan Batch 7, bringing to a close one of the distillery’s most revered modern bottlings. Aged in a higher proportion of first-fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at an elevated 50.3% ABV, the concluding batch amplifies richness and spice while preserving Traigh Bhan’s famed “impossible balance”.
Together, the releases — alongside the continued availability of Batch 6 — highlight Ardbeg’s uncompromising approach to whisky-making and its growing resonance among collectors and connoisseurs seeking both provenance and progression in the luxury spirits space.
