Leading whisky brand Ardbeg has revealed a truly ground-breaking limited edition whisky collectible, a single malt that has been buried in a peat bog for more than two years.
The Islay single malt’s first subterranean spirit, Ardbeg Fon Fhòid (Scots Gaelic for ‘under the turf’), is being launched as its inaugural NFT (non-fungible token) edition. Tasting more earthy, mossy and herbal than Ardbeg has ever been, this extreme experiment will be available exclusively at BlockBar.com.
Established in 1815, the Islay Single Malt company has long been revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. And the idea of taking its smoky, balanced spirit all the way back to its peaty roots had, for years, been submerged in the mind of Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden. In 2014, that idea resurfaced. Furthermore, Ardbeg’s team, led by then distillery manager Mickey Heads, took two casks of whisky aged in second-fill bourbon casks and buried them in a secret, peaty location near the distillery. Two years and 10 months later, they unearthed Ardbeg Fon Fhòid.
Ardbeg Fon Fhòid’s limited release of 456 bottles is available to purchase exclusively for 1 ETH (approx. £2,600) as an NFT on BlockBar.com on April 19. BlockBar.com offers NFTs – digital assets – directly from luxury wine and spirits brands and carefully stores the real thing.
Those lucky enough to lay their hands on the whisky will receive a digital certificate that verifies their ownership and the authenticity of the bottle, which will be stored at BlockBar’s facility in Singapore until redeemed. The buyer may also choose to safely trade their NFT within the BlockBar.com marketplace, keep it in their virtual bar or gift the NFT through BlockBar’s new gifting platform.
Dr Bill said: “I think it’s safe to say we’ve unearthed a truly special Ardbeg here. Ardbeg Fon Fhòid is earthy and mossy with one hell of a herbal nose! Good luck to all those hoping to secure some of Ardbeg’s own buried treasure – I hope you land a bottle!”
Thomas Moradpour, president and CEO of The Glenmorangie Company which owns Ardbeg Distillery, said: “We’re so excited to be launching this exclusive and first NFT release from Ardbeg, one of the world’s most collectable whiskies. Our whisky makers are always pushing the boundaries of experimentation; this is a chance to own one of their most intriguing creations to date, a true piece of Ardbeg history.”
Dov Falic, CEO and co-founder of BlockBar, added: “We’re delighted to be partnering with the iconic Ardbeg Distillery to launch its first-ever NFT. We hope whisky fans new and old will take the opportunity to join our community and discover this peaty experiment, which BlockBar will keep in perfect condition until the owners are ready to enjoy it.”
Whisky notes to know
Aroma: Pungent, waxy and salty with a curious, but distinctive, mossy note. This is then followed by a hint of molasses or sugarcane. There is also a background musty/earthy note, like walking into a damp whisky warehouse. A splash of water releases some more herbal notes, almost like asparagus or artichoke. Next comes a waxy, oily fragrance, reminiscent of a freshly waxed jacket along with a distinctive soapy aroma.
Taste: A slightly drying mouthfeel is followed by some savoury notes, like grilled artichoke and ground pepper, along with a suggestion of rye bread. The classic Ardbeg smokiness is subdued, but always in the background, coming across as tar-coated fennel.
Finish: Bold and slightly drying, with a distinctive bacon saltiness.
Casks: Second-fill bourbon
ABV: 45.5%
Colour: Pale straw
