Ardbeg Dark Cove Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Scottish Isles, the island of Islay (pronounced EYE-lah) is only 240 square miles and home to just over 3,000 people. Still, the island is one of just five distilling regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law. Ardbeg Distillery, which is situated on the southern coast of Islay, was founded in 1815 by the MacDougall family. By 1886, nearly one-third of the population of Islay worked at the distillery and today, it stands as a testament to Scottish heritage and tradition.Beneath the surface, however, the distillery has a checkered past. Ardbeg was once a notorious hideout for smugglers, who plied their trade within its hidden caves and secret beaches dark tales abound of daring deeds and narrow escapes from the islands excise men in the years before the McDougalls founded the distillery.Inspired by its murky past, this year Ardbeg has for the first time ever decided to plunge its annual Ardbeg Day into Ardbeg Night. To commemorate Ardbeg Night, which will take place on May 28th, 2016, Ardbeg has released Ardbeg Dark Cove Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, a limited-edition bottling which Mickey Heads, the distillerys manager, claims is its darkest ever. Ardbeg Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from malted barley, which is peated to approximately 50 phenol parts per million. Once the grains have been fermented, they are distilled twice, first through a copper-pot wash still and then again through a copper-pot spirit still. The spirit still is equipped with a purifier, which acts as small condenser and causes a portion of the evaporating vapors to be pumped back into the pot and then re-distilled. This purification process, which is rare in the industry, results in whisky that has a signature fresh and malty flavor.Ardbeg Dark Cove Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky was aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and dark (read: heavily-seasoned) sherry casks, which contribute notes of cured meats, chocolate oranges, coffee, oil, and blackcurrant to the nose. The palate transitions to tart flavors of lime, honey, ginger, pepper and oak, and leads to an exquisite finish marked by almonds, toffee, raisins, dates and wood polish.This limited-edition whisky is sure to sell out quickly pick up a bottle (or two) today!