On the southern coast of Islay, where the air is salted by the Atlantic and smoke from peat fires seems part of the weather, Ardbeg is telling the last chapter of a three‑part story. The Glenmorangie Company has unveiled Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale, the third and final limited‑edition single malt in a trilogy inspired by mythical creatures.
The Anthology series set out to merge classic Ardbeg intensity with experimental maturation, creating what the distillery calls “sweeter, more delicate” hybrids. The journey began in August 2023 with The Harpy’s Tale, a 13‑year‑old, followed by The Unicorn’s Tale, aged 14 years, in July 2024. Now comes The Beithir’s Tale—named for a serpentine beast of Scottish myth—marking the end of the experiment.
This 15‑year‑old single malt is also a first for the distillery: it’s matured entirely in designer Bourbon casks, air‑seasoned, heavily toasted, and lightly charred to Ardbeg’s exact specifications. The approach, says master blender Gillian Macdonald, is “as experimental as they come.”
The whisky opens with aromas of treacle, creosote, smoked herbs, toasted apples, raisins, fennel, and pine. On the palate, expect waves of peat smoke, coffee grounds, currants, sweet lemon balm, and smoked mandarins. The finish slides into vanilla and smoked butter, with a menthol‑tinged bite that Macdonald likens to the beast itself—smooth, mysterious, and capable of striking.
“We are always pushing the boundaries of Ardbeg to discover even more flavour combinations,” Macdonald says. “Created from whisky matured in our designer casks, The Beithir’s Tale is the aromatic and sweet finale of our Anthology series.”
Bottled at 46% ABV and priced at £135 (US$179), The Beithir’s Tale will be available through the Ardbeg website, at the distillery’s visitor centre on Islay, and via Ardbeg Embassies and select whisky specialists worldwide.
For Ardbeg, the Anthology series has been as much about storytelling as whisky‑making. Each release has paired a legendary creature with an equally distinctive maturation style, blending the distillery’s famed smoky power with an unexpected sweetness. If The Harpy’s Tale was a fierce, winged opening, and The Unicorn’s Tale a rare and ethereal middle, The Beithir’s Tale feels like a coiled conclusion—rich, layered, and ready to strike.
