Scotland, 46%
A Unicorn's Tale is the second edition in Ardbeg's Anthology series, following on from the success of the first Anthology release, Harpy’s Tale. It's a single malt Scotch whisky matured in a marriage of Madeira casks and bourbon casks, bottled at 14 years old.
Each release reimagines a mythological beast which might be real – or might be a mistaken glimpse at one of Islay’s native beasties… The story of the unicorn at Ardbeg begins on a dark night after a fête at the Distillery when the clip-clop of hooves was heard echoing around the yard. The workers suspected Rory, the Distillery’s greedy Shetland Pony who's known for his ill-temper and devilishly sweet tooth, but when they ventured outside to investigate they witnessed a horse-like creature rearing up against a full moon, with a horn protruding from its head. The next day, rumours swirled about a sighting of Scotland’s national animal… a Unicorn. Had Rory simply raided an ice cream truck and walked out of his unlatched gate? Or was something more mythical afoot?
Nose: Rich, sweet, aromatic and fruity, baked banana bread and syrupy sponge pudding fill the senses. Notes of treacle trot into a distinctive whiff of burning cedar wood. A splash of water releases a bounty of tropical fruits. Eucalyptus oil mingles with soft, aromatic smoke.
Palate: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.
