Table Of Contents

The Details

Rating 91
Style
Whiskey
Produced In Scotland
ABV 46%
Availability Limited
Price $159.99 
Reviewed By
Review Updated 2024-08-22

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Review

No stranger to playful names, Islay-based Ardbeg is back with the second release in its Anthology Series. Fans of hybrid mythical creatures, rejoice, because today we’re reviewing “The Unicorn’s Tale.”

Last year’s release was dubbed “The Harpy’s Tale” and featured a blend of distillate aged in ex-bourbon barrels (classic for Ardbeg) with whisky matured in Sauternes sweet white wine casks. (Hence the tie-in to hybridized mythical beasts.)

For 2024’s The Unicorn’s Tale, Ardbeg’s team married their hallmark peated Scotch aged in ex-bourbon barrels with distillate aged entirely in Madeira wine casks. The resulting blend carries a 14-year age statement.

The use of whisky aged entirely in Madeira casks is a first from storied Ardbeg. The final product is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof. Let’s dive in and see how it tastes!

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale review.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale: Stats and Availability

In the United States, this release carries a suggested retail price of around $160. It’s available on ReserveBar.com and at select U.S. retailers. Ardbeg is a brand that can certainly command premiums on the secondary. But for this release — which seems fairly widespread and accessible — most American consumers can find it for at or even slightly below suggested retail, at least for the time being.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Review

As with all of VinePair’s whisky reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

Hot cinnamon candy and amaro-soaked cherries start things off on the nose; it’s a nearly equal combination of spice and boozy red fruit. About that amaro note: there’s a lot of botanicals here at first sniff — a blend of licorice root, gentian root, and tart dried citrus peel, among other scents. Frankincense essential oil is up next; once I clock that, it’s easy to find again among other aromas, whereas the botanical notes dial back considerably.

If the beginning was spice and fruit, the next phase leans a little more into peat and sweet, further amplified by time resting in the glass. Campfire embers, scented holiday pine cones, and a barely-there note of pencil eraser account for the smoke. A little baked apples in syrup and starfruit provide some levity that helps keep things comparatively fresh.

Complex, and never quite committing to either rich fruit or traditional peat, The Unicorn’s Tale certainly provides a lot to ponder on the nose. Time to sip.

Taste

Notable for an early umami element, the palate kicks off quickly with meaty burnt ends. A second sip brings much more sweetness, and the BBQ settles into the background. Fresh apricot, lemon/lime soda, and cornbread flapjacks (esoteric, I know) form the base of flavors through to the midpalate. It’s a little fruity, a little grainy, and a little citrus-forward; whatever the final score, this is an Ardbeg with range, through and through.

Smoked peaches and alcohol-soaked cherries build along and after the midpalate. The effect is such that, at points, the whisky drinks a bit above its 92 proof. It’s plenty flavorful across the tongue, but I’m not quite in love with the mouthfeel, which feels slightly less viscous than optimal.

The whisky never shrugs off peat smoke entirely, and the campfire component takes on a light menthol quality toward the end. Finally, sweet, syrupy pear builds along the back and sides of the tongue. It’s a nice fruity turn, as if The Unicorn’s Tale is finally planting a flag in one quadrant of the flavor wheel.

Finish

I worried the somewhat thin viscosity would lead to a short finish. Thankfully, that’s not quite the case. There’s enough peat and pear to keep things going through the final act, coupled with cooling spearmint (an evolution from the aforementioned menthol). From there, it’s a gradual decrescendo of flavors that leaves the palate neither wet nor dry, and with a lingering wisp of smoke. Experiments aside, this is Ardbeg, after all.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Rating

91/100

Recap

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale certainly feels like a mashup, and the interplay between that classic Ardbeg profile and sweet wine influence is quite fun. And fortunately, each distillate component has enough age and depth to show up with some gusto. My main critique is the lighter-than-hoped-for mouthfeel, though fortunately that short step doesn’t seem to hobble the pleasing finish. Ardbeg fans will likely find this to be a fun twist on a familiar profile, while those newer to the brand may need a little more time to suss out the various influences and semi-experimental blend.

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91
POINTS
Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale
No stranger to playful names, Islay-based Ardbeg is back with the second release in its Anthology Series. Fans of hybrid mythical creatures, rejoice, because today we’re reviewing “The Unicorn’s Tale.” Last year’s release was dubbed “The Harpy’s Tale” and featured a blend of distillate aged in ex-bourbon barrels (classic for Ardbeg) with whisky matured in Sauternes sweet white wine casks. (Hence the tie-in to hybridized mythical beasts.) For 2024’s The Unicorn’s Tale, Ardbeg’s team married their hallmark peated Scotch aged in ex-bourbon barrels with distillate aged entirely in Madeira wine casks. The resulting blend carries a 14-year age statement. The use of whisky aged entirely in Madeira casks is a first from storied Ardbeg. The final product is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof. Let’s dive in and see how it tastes! Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale review.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale: Stats and Availability

In the United States, this release carries a suggested retail price of around $160. It’s available on ReserveBar.com and at select U.S. retailers. Ardbeg is a brand that can certainly command premiums on the secondary. But for this release — which seems fairly widespread and accessible — most American consumers can find it for at or even slightly below suggested retail, at least for the time being.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Review

As with all of VinePair’s whisky reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

Hot cinnamon candy and amaro-soaked cherries start things off on the nose; it’s a nearly equal combination of spice and boozy red fruit. About that amaro note: there’s a lot of botanicals here at first sniff — a blend of licorice root, gentian root, and tart dried citrus peel, among other scents. Frankincense essential oil is up next; once I clock that, it’s easy to find again among other aromas, whereas the botanical notes dial back considerably. If the beginning was spice and fruit, the next phase leans a little more into peat and sweet, further amplified by time resting in the glass. Campfire embers, scented holiday pine cones, and a barely-there note of pencil eraser account for the smoke. A little baked apples in syrup and starfruit provide some levity that helps keep things comparatively fresh. Complex, and never quite committing to either rich fruit or traditional peat, The Unicorn’s Tale certainly provides a lot to ponder on the nose. Time to sip.

Taste

Notable for an early umami element, the palate kicks off quickly with meaty burnt ends. A second sip brings much more sweetness, and the BBQ settles into the background. Fresh apricot, lemon/lime soda, and cornbread flapjacks (esoteric, I know) form the base of flavors through to the midpalate. It’s a little fruity, a little grainy, and a little citrus-forward; whatever the final score, this is an Ardbeg with range, through and through. Smoked peaches and alcohol-soaked cherries build along and after the midpalate. The effect is such that, at points, the whisky drinks a bit above its 92 proof. It’s plenty flavorful across the tongue, but I’m not quite in love with the mouthfeel, which feels slightly less viscous than optimal. The whisky never shrugs off peat smoke entirely, and the campfire component takes on a light menthol quality toward the end. Finally, sweet, syrupy pear builds along the back and sides of the tongue. It’s a nice fruity turn, as if The Unicorn’s Tale is finally planting a flag in one quadrant of the flavor wheel.

Finish

I worried the somewhat thin viscosity would lead to a short finish. Thankfully, that’s not quite the case. There’s enough peat and pear to keep things going through the final act, coupled with cooling spearmint (an evolution from the aforementioned menthol). From there, it’s a gradual decrescendo of flavors that leaves the palate neither wet nor dry, and with a lingering wisp of smoke. Experiments aside, this is Ardbeg, after all.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Rating

91/100

Recap

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale certainly feels like a mashup, and the interplay between that classic Ardbeg profile and sweet wine influence is quite fun. And fortunately, each distillate component has enough age and depth to show up with some gusto. My main critique is the lighter-than-hoped-for mouthfeel, though fortunately that short step doesn’t seem to hobble the pleasing finish. Ardbeg fans will likely find this to be a fun twist on a familiar profile, while those newer to the brand may need a little more time to suss out the various influences and semi-experimental blend.

Reviewed On: 08-23-2024
91
POINTS
Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale
No stranger to playful names, Islay-based Ardbeg is back with the second release in its Anthology Series. Fans of hybrid mythical creatures, rejoice, because today we’re reviewing “The Unicorn’s Tale.” Last year’s release was dubbed “The Harpy’s Tale” and featured a blend of distillate aged in ex-bourbon barrels (classic for Ardbeg) with whisky matured in Sauternes sweet white wine casks. (Hence the tie-in to hybridized mythical beasts.) For 2024’s The Unicorn’s Tale, Ardbeg’s team married their hallmark peated Scotch aged in ex-bourbon barrels with distillate aged entirely in Madeira wine casks. The resulting blend carries a 14-year age statement. The use of whisky aged entirely in Madeira casks is a first from storied Ardbeg. The final product is non-chill filtered and bottled at 92 proof. Let’s dive in and see how it tastes! Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale review.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale: Stats and Availability

In the United States, this release carries a suggested retail price of around $160. It’s available on ReserveBar.com and at select U.S. retailers. Ardbeg is a brand that can certainly command premiums on the secondary. But for this release — which seems fairly widespread and accessible — most American consumers can find it for at or even slightly below suggested retail, at least for the time being.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Review

As with all of VinePair’s whisky reviews, this was tasted in a Glencairn glass and rested for at least five minutes.

Nose

Hot cinnamon candy and amaro-soaked cherries start things off on the nose; it’s a nearly equal combination of spice and boozy red fruit. About that amaro note: there’s a lot of botanicals here at first sniff — a blend of licorice root, gentian root, and tart dried citrus peel, among other scents. Frankincense essential oil is up next; once I clock that, it’s easy to find again among other aromas, whereas the botanical notes dial back considerably. If the beginning was spice and fruit, the next phase leans a little more into peat and sweet, further amplified by time resting in the glass. Campfire embers, scented holiday pine cones, and a barely-there note of pencil eraser account for the smoke. A little baked apples in syrup and starfruit provide some levity that helps keep things comparatively fresh. Complex, and never quite committing to either rich fruit or traditional peat, The Unicorn’s Tale certainly provides a lot to ponder on the nose. Time to sip.

Taste

Notable for an early umami element, the palate kicks off quickly with meaty burnt ends. A second sip brings much more sweetness, and the BBQ settles into the background. Fresh apricot, lemon/lime soda, and cornbread flapjacks (esoteric, I know) form the base of flavors through to the midpalate. It’s a little fruity, a little grainy, and a little citrus-forward; whatever the final score, this is an Ardbeg with range, through and through. Smoked peaches and alcohol-soaked cherries build along and after the midpalate. The effect is such that, at points, the whisky drinks a bit above its 92 proof. It’s plenty flavorful across the tongue, but I’m not quite in love with the mouthfeel, which feels slightly less viscous than optimal. The whisky never shrugs off peat smoke entirely, and the campfire component takes on a light menthol quality toward the end. Finally, sweet, syrupy pear builds along the back and sides of the tongue. It’s a nice fruity turn, as if The Unicorn’s Tale is finally planting a flag in one quadrant of the flavor wheel.

Finish

I worried the somewhat thin viscosity would lead to a short finish. Thankfully, that’s not quite the case. There’s enough peat and pear to keep things going through the final act, coupled with cooling spearmint (an evolution from the aforementioned menthol). From there, it’s a gradual decrescendo of flavors that leaves the palate neither wet nor dry, and with a lingering wisp of smoke. Experiments aside, this is Ardbeg, after all.

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale Rating

91/100

Recap

Ardbeg Anthology: The Unicorn’s Tale certainly feels like a mashup, and the interplay between that classic Ardbeg profile and sweet wine influence is quite fun. And fortunately, each distillate component has enough age and depth to show up with some gusto. My main critique is the lighter-than-hoped-for mouthfeel, though fortunately that short step doesn’t seem to hobble the pleasing finish. Ardbeg fans will likely find this to be a fun twist on a familiar profile, while those newer to the brand may need a little more time to suss out the various influences and semi-experimental blend.

Reviewed On: 08-23-2024