The Abyss
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THE LEGENDARY HEART OF CORRYVRECKAN
A whisky reborn...
There once was a whisky called Ardbeg Corryvreckan Limited Edition. Deep at the heart of that whisky was spirit matured in heavily toasted French oak casks. These were the casks that gave that legendary whisky its hair-raising power.
Only a handful of those historic casks survive to this day. The last remnants of an iconic favourite. Now they return as Ardbeg The Abyss - an exceptionally rare whisky bottled at cask strength 48.4% ABV, and limited to only 400 bottles.
To celebrate this extraordinary moment, we have collaborated with acclaimed comic book artist Tradd Moore to create a limited edition comic to sit alongside the very rare ‘heart of Corryvreckan’ whisky from 1989.
A whisky reborn. Its legend retold. Ardbeg The Abyss is destined to become a legend in its own right. Never to be repeated.
THE ABYSS LIQUID STORY
Ultra-Active Casks
Released in 2008, the original Ardbeg Corryvreckan limited edition had, at its heart, spirit matured in ultra-active French oak casks. These unusual casks, heavily toasted to an exact specification, rendered them more powerful than a standard French oak barrique. These were the casks that made the original Corryvreckan a favourite among fans and an icon among single malts.
Corryvreckan Transformed
Now the last of these legendary casks return to us – as Ardbeg The Abyss. Corryvreckan is transfigured as intense new flavours emerge from its mysterious depths. Its raw power transformed by space and time. This rich and unusually dark Ardbeg draws drinkers deep into swirls of toasted marshmallows and tea leaves, while notes of dark chocolate, pecan, leather and creosote circle nearby.
"A true trailblazer for Ardbeg."
TASTING NOTES
Colour
Deep autumn sunset
Aroma
Rich, pungent and aromatic, but mellow, deep and gentle at the same time. Aromas of toasting marshmallows, aromatic tea leaves, roasted chestnut and baking sourdough bread draw you in, with something altogether zestier circling nearby, like lemon balsam. There is a lingering, background sweetness, like demerara sugar, and then a whiff of antique leather. A splash of water opens up the bouquet to reveal more herbal top notes, with a whisper of lemon sherbet and pine resin.
Taste
A wonderfully mellow mouthfeel with a hint of spiciness, which takes a dramatic turn when bold new flavours enter: dark chocolate, pecan nut toffee, old leather, clove, ginger and a touch of treacle and creosote. The smoke is always there, beautifully entwined with the oak tannins.
Finish
On the aftertaste, enticing hints of baked apple, aniseed and oak.
INTRODUCING TRADD MOORE
Tradd Moore: Bio
To re-tell the legend of Corryvreckan, we have collaborated with one of the most renowned comic book artists of his generation, Tradd Moore.
Tradd’s comic re-imagines the tale of the Corryvreckan whirlpool, drawing the reader into another dimension to discover the fate of an enigmatic Lone Figure. Like the whisky itself, his fantastical artwork draws us into a parallel world where sea, space and spirit collide!
Famed for his technical mastery, original compositions and unique hyper-stylised artwork, Tradd’s skills as artist, storyteller and creator have made him a fan favourite, and his work highly collectible.
"The best artist in action comics today."
THE DIVING CHAMBER
Ardbeg The Abyss is presented as no whisky has ever been presented before. The whisky and the comic book sit alongside each other within a unique casing, itself inspired by the whirlpool at the heart of the story and the dramatic twists and turns of the whisky’s flavours.
Complete with port holes, gauges and a masterfully-engineered locking mechanism, this extraordinary space-capsule-meets-diving-chamber is itself a journey of discovery and hidden depths.
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An Artist's Tribute
To commemorate the launch of Ardbeg The Abyss, we have also released a series of Corryvreckan special edition, which will be sold exclusively here at the Distillery Visitor Centre whilst stocks last. These bottles, which contain our current Corryvreckan whisky, feature limited edition labels by Tradd Moore.
Each of the four labels depict a scene of Islay as seen through the eyes and imagination of an extraordinary artist.