Ardbeg prepares to release Alligator
The Ardbeg distillery is to release its annual limited edition whisky on September 1.
Ardbeg Alligator has been matured in heavily-charred casks – the name comes from the resemblance to an alligator’s skin that the casks take on after the charring process.
Use of such casks is relatively rare in the Scotch whisky industry.
The whisky is being bottled at 51.2% abv and is non chill-filtered.
It will have a UK rrp of £55.
The whisky is being pre-released this week to members of the Ardbeg Committee – the brand’s fanclub – to gauge reaction, and tastings will be held at selected specialist whisky shops through the summer.
Bill Lumsden, head of distilling and whisky creation at Ardbeg owner Glenmorangie, said: “Since we bought and restored the distillery we have undertaken lots of experiments, laying down spirit in different types of casks.
“This began back in the late 1990s and Alligator is the happy outcome of one experiment that we are really pleased with.”
