The Ardbeg Committee has unveiled Ardbeg Dolce, a rare malt matured in Marsala dolce casks, to celebrate this year’s Ardbeg Day.
Held annually on the final Saturday of Islay’s Festival of Music and Malt, Fèis Ìle, Ardbeg Day is a global celebration of all
things Ardbeg.
This year on 30 May, smoky malt enthusiasts will embrace la dolce vita (the sweet life) Islay-style.
Australia will once again lead the world on this release, providing Ardbeg Committee members a 24-hour preview to purchase on 30 April, almost one month ahead of global launch.
Following this, from 1 May Ardbeg Dolce will be available to purchase exclusively through The Whisky Club.
Ardbeg Dolce brings together rare malt matured in Marsala dolce casks, the sweetest style of Sicily’s fortified wine, with classic bourbon cask-matured Ardbeg. This dramatic fusion of Sicilian sweetness and Islay peat amplifies Ardbeg’s peaty paradox, its trademark balance of sweetness and smoke.
Master Blender and Co-Chair of the Ardbeg Committee Gillian Macdonald said: “Uniting whisky matured in Marsala dolce casks and classic Ardbeg, Ardbeg Dolce is a dramatic blend of Mediterranean sweetness and Islay peat.
“Sweet notes of apricot, marmalade and dark chocolate rub shoulders with salty, smoky flavours and roasted
nutty tones. Enjoy this limited edition in a Sicilian courtyard, on rain-drenched Scottish island or wherever you are. We think it’ll be an instant classic.”
For the first time, albeit a touch fashionably late, Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation at Ardbeg and Glenmorangie will join our Ardbeg Day Sydney celebration, offering a rare opportunity for Ardbeggians to meet and celebrate with him in person.
On 6 June, from 3pm to 5pm, Ardbeg in collaboration with Sydney Ardbeg Embassy Silver’s Motel will host “PEAT-ZZERIA”, serving woodfired pizzas infused with the spirit of Ardbeg to complement the distinctive Ardbeg liquid.
For those unable to travel to Sydney, the “PEAT-ZZERIA” experience will also be available at participating Ardbeg Embassies across the country:
- Whisky & Aliment – Melbourne, VIC
- The Gresham – Brisbane, QLD
- Foxtrot Unicorn – Perth, WA
- Malt & Juniper – Adelaide, SA
- Volstead Repeal – Canberra, ACT
Tickets to the Ardbeg Day Sydney Celebration hosted by Dr Bill Lumsden and the nationwide Ardbeg Day Embassy Events will be available from 22 April. Tickets to the Sydney Celebration will be available exclusively to Ardbeg Committee
members. If you’re not yet part of the Ardbeg Committee, joining is free and grants you immediate access to this global community of peat enthusiasts: ardbeg.com/en-gb/committee.
For more information on Ardbeg Day events nationwide and to purchase tickets, visit ardbegcommittee.com.au/pages/ardbeg-day-2026.
Ardbeg Dolce will be available to purchase for a 24-hour preview through the Ardbeg Committee on 30April at ardbegcommittee.com.au/products/ardbeg-dolce, then exclusively through The Whisky Club from 1 May. The limited-edition
release can be previewed now at thewhiskyclub.com.au.