Iconic Islay distillery Ardbeg returns with the second edition in its Anthology Series: The Unicorn’s Tale. This time the powerhouse peated malt has spent time in both Madeira wine casks and bourbon barrels, with this bottling drawn from a vatting of the two. Aged for 14 years, the smoke takes on a strikingly sweet character. The whole collection sees conventional stocks paired with more esoteric parcels, resulting in a series of distillery ‘firsts’. Each is then named after a legendary creature rumoured to have been seen on the isle. Intriguing stuff.

Tasting notes from Ardbeg: 

Nose:  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.

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.