Ardbeg Anthology Whisky Sample 13 Year Old The Harpy's Tale 2023 Release (30ml, 46%)

Ardbeg Anthology Whisky Sample 13 Year Old The Harpy's Tale 2023 Release (30ml, 46%)

The Ardbeg 13 Year Old Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale marks the beginning of a new experimental chapter for the distillery. Released in 2023, it is the first "hybrid" expression in the Anthology collection, which focuses on rare and unusual cask maturations that have never been part of the Ardbeg core range.

The "Harpy" title refers to the mythical creature that is part bird and part woman, mirroring the "clash" of styles in the bottle: classic Ardbeg ex-bourbon spirit and Sauternes wine cask maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Very aromatic and unusually fruity. It opens with apricots, extra-ripe peaches, and honeyed acacia. The smoke is there, but it’s "polite"—smelling of gentle wood ash and pine resin. As it breathes, you get a savory maritime note of seaweed and wet wool, layered with a rich crème brûlée sweetness.

Palate: Oily and luscious. The arrival is surprisingly sweet with lemon curd, white grapes, and poached pears. Mid-palate, the Ardbeg "monster" wakes up, bringing charred oak, aniseed, and medicinal lozenges. The Sauternes influence provides a beautiful, velvety texture that carries notes of almonds and orange marmalade through the smoke.

Finish: Medium to long. The sweetness lingers with honey and vanilla, while the smoke turns into a dry, sooty ember. It finishes with a refreshing citrus zing of lime zest and ginger.

Why it's special 

• The Sauternes Debut: While Ardbeg has experimented with Sherry and Rum, a dedicated Sauternes influence is a rarity for the distillery. The "noble rot" sweetness of the wine adds a golden, honeyed dimension that perfectly counters the phenolic "bite" of the smoke.

• The 13-Year Age Statement: In an era of non-age statement (NAS) limited releases, the 13-year age statement is a welcome return to transparency. It shows a matured spirit that has had time to integrate the "hot" peat with the wine tannins.

• The First of the Anthology: This is "Volume One" of a new series. For collectors and enthusiasts, this is the foundational bottle for the Anthology collection, which aims to document Ardbeg’s most unusual cask experiments.

• The "Laddie" Comparison: For many Islay fans, this feels like Ardbeg’s answer to the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Sauternes finishes. It’s an interesting look at how the heavier, more medicinal Ardbeg spirit handles the same "dessert wine" wood compared to its neighbors.