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19th June 2014 |
Ardbeg
Kildalton launched to help raise funds
to support Islay's hard working rural
community groups.
 The Glenmorangie Company
have announced a new partnership with the
North Highland Initiative (NHI).
Inspired by HRH The Prince Charles, Duke
of Rothesay, the NHI is a charity that
supports fragile, rural communities
across the North Highlands.
This new partnership will bring together
the Ardbeg Distillery and the NHI to work
with community organisations in Port
Ellen, Isle of Islay.
To help raise funds for this
community-based initiative the Ardbeg
Distillery has launched a limited edition whisky, Ardbeg Kildalton
which is now available from the Ardbeg
distillery shop but will be available to
purchase online from Autumn 2014 in the
UK and selected European markets.
Ardbeg Kildalton takes its name from the
nearby Kildalton Cross; at 1200 years
old it is an icon of Islay and Scotland
and stands six miles along the coast
from the Distillery. Kildalton and Oa is
also the name of the ancient parish that
includes the Distillery and Port Ellen.
As the Ardbeg fans amongst you will
recognise this isn't the first Ardbeg
Kildalton expression from the
distillery, back in 2004 they released a
now legendary limited edition bottling
of 1300 bottles which contained some
experimental unpeated and lightly peated
whiskies which was distilled back in
1980.
The new Ardbeg Kildalton 2014 is also a
limited release expression, this time it
is a range of different ages and styles.
It is a union of Ardbeg which has been
matured in Bourbon barrels as well as
both new and refill Sherry casks. You
will be pleased to hear that it is non
chill-filtered for extra texture and
mouth feel, and with a strength of 46%
ABV. You can read my review below.
The Ardbeg Kildalton 2014 is priced at
£120 a bottle and Ardbeg has told me
that a substantial sum from the proceeds
of each bottle will go towards delivery
of The Kildalton Project on Islay.
With more than 20,000 visitors per year
and a passionate following in the Ardbeg
Committee, the Distillery plans to
involve as many people as possible in
the fundraising effort for the Kildalton
Project.
Tom Campbell, CEO of The North Highland
Initiative, will head the project team
working closely with the South Islay
Development board. Funds raised from the
launch of Ardbeg Kildalton will
contribute to the project’s development.
The Kildalton Project Team will also
begin a fundraising campaign to attract
other supporters.
David Whiteford, chair of The North
Highland Initiative said: "We are
delighted to have The Glenmorangie
Company as a new partner and it is
exciting to be involved here on Islay as
it extends the original scope of the
North Highland Initiative and the vision
of His Royal Highness in promoting
sustainable communities.
"The Kildalton Project will bring alive
this vision in a vital island community
and is the kind of project where we can
add support and expertise to already
hard working rural community groups."
Jackie Thomson, chair of South Islay
Development, and Visitor Centre Manager
at the Ardbeg Distillery commented: "We
thank The North Highland Initiative and
Ardbeg Distillery for helping us
initiate The Kildalton Project; Islay is
really ‘on the move’ and South Islay in
particular is becoming a dynamic place
to visit as a result of the projects we
already have underway.
"A new Community Hub will be an
important piece of the jigsaw in
sustaining Port Ellen as a vibrant
community."
For The Glenmorangie Company, Hamish
Torrie, director of Corporate Social
Responsibility concluded: "The Kildalton
Project is a great illustration of our
long term commitment to playing our part
in the community of Islay.
"We are delighted to have the support
and encouragement of His Royal Highness
and welcome the NHI team to Islay."
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Ardbeg Kildalton 2014 Tasting Notes
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William
Morrison's Tasting Notes:
The Ardbeg Kildalton is a limited
release expression, a union of a range
of different ages and styles which has
been matured in Bourbon barrels as well
as both new and refill Sherry casks. Non
chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV.
Nose: A lovely enticing
multi-layered nose with creamy vanilla,
touch of exotic fruit, some salt and
white pepper which leads to a subtle sweet peatiness.
Taste:
A stunning delivery, a silky smooth
flavour explosion in the mouth, malty,
vanilla coated in oak spice,
touch of sherry sweetness, a bit of dark
chocolate all brushed with some lovely
Ardbeg peat smoke.
Finish: Long. Touch of vanilla
sweetness balances well with some
slightly bitter dark chocolate, mild
allspice Christmas cake notes, mild
slightly
drying slowly fading peat smoke.
Comment:
Just a touch less peatiness than you
expect to find in Ardbeg which lets the
fruitiness and spice from the clearly
quality sherry casks (which I would say
there are more refill than first-fill
sherry casks in the union) and the creamy
vanilla from the bourbon cask influence
come through but there is still plenty
of peat to
keep the Ardbeg peat heads happy. As it
has been launched to help raise funds for
a good cause I so wanted this to be
good, and it is, a
cracking Ardbeg, lovely long finish, it
is £120 for a NAS expression
but it is to help raise funds for a good
cause.
Score
91/100
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