Review #568 - Ardbeg Anthology 14 Year: The Unicorn's Tale
The second release in Ardbeg's Anthology series is The Unicorn's Tale, a 14 year old Islay single malt bottled in 2024. The unicorn actually has a lot of history in Scotland - this mythical creature is the country's national animal, and it's been part of the national coat of arms since the 1500s. According to Ardbeg's marketing-heavy website, there are rumors of unicorn sightings on Islay, as well as on the mainland.
Instead of the Sauternes casks that we saw with the 13 year old Harpy's Tale, this 14 year version uses a combination of ex-bourbon casks and Madeira casks (a fortified wine from the Madeira Islands, part of Portugal). We're hoping that these casks lead to some darker, richer flavors in this Ardbeg - the combination of their peaty spirit and rich fruity or nutty notes can be a real treat when done well.
Ardbeg Anthology 14 Year: The Unicorn's Tale
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Price: USD 170 (2025)
Age Statement: 14 Years
Strength: 46% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon and ex-Madeira casks
Details: Not chill filtered, bottled 2024
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 1 time; bottle 90% fill level at time of review. Tasted in a nosing glass, rested 15+ minutes
Nose: A decent amount of peat intact, accented by rounded, soft oak. Lots of orange fruit and hot peppers, though it isn't overly spicy; it smells oily and rich.
Palate: A medium thickness mouthfeel; strong sweet hot peppers to start, along with some fresh bell pepper, yellow and orange pepper specifically. The peat smoke is relatively strong but not overpowering, and we get a soft, sharp fruit note - ripe lime. Vanilla and cream add a mellow sweetness.
Finish: Hints of caramel and ash, and the peat smoke still has a medium strength, but it begins to trail off. The complexion is relatively light, and it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: We enjoyed this whisky - good Ardbeg, and while there was some Madeira influence, we didn't find it overwhelming at all; the creaminess on the palate was a favorite part. Lots of classic ex-bourbon Ardbeg notes, and the peat is still relatively strong at this age - a good sipper.
While this single malt is quite good, value is still below average due to the high price. We would be more likely to pick this up if it cost under $100, like most of the single malt competition around a 14 year age statement; so far, the value on this Anthology series isn't great.
Our Average Rating: 7.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 5.42
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
