Islay Meets Italy: Ardbeg Dolce Channels 60s Cinema in a Smoky, Sweet Twist

Monday, 04 August 2025 at 09:15TTB

Ardbeg has discovered a fresh perspective for its next single malt release. A label has been registered for Ardbeg Dolce, a whisky that takes inspiration from the golden era of Italian cinema in the 1960s. But what can we expect it to taste like?

What was the inspiration for Ardbeg Dolce whisky?
The Ardbeg Dolce single malt draws its creative influence from the cinematic glamour and style of 1960s Italian film culture.

What does Ardbeg Dolce whisky taste like?
According to the label, the whisky has notes of apricot, marmalade, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and smoked applewood.

Where can you buy Ardbeg Dolce?
Details on availability have not yet been announced.

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The labels that appear in the online TTB database are no guarantee that a particular whisky will actually be released. With this, a distillery or bottler merely registers a label, but does not officially announce anything.

Is Ardbeg going to the movies with its new whisky?

Ardbeg is known for playfully weaving themes into its whisky storytelling. The label for Ardbeg Dolce suggests a stylish crossover between smoky Islay whisky and the elegance of 1960s Italian cinema.

The label for the Ardbeg Dolce single malt whisky states the following:

"In Ardbeg Dolce, olive groves meet misty bays, Sicilian movie reels meet Islay lobsters, and sweet Marsala warmth meets smoky Ardbeg peat - a sensory masterpiece."

What will Ardbeg Dolce whisky be?

There's a touch of Italy in this whisky. The new whisky from Ardbeg has been aged in Sicilian Marsala wine barrels and in ex-bourbon barrels. This gives the smoky Islay whisky a sweet, balanced flavor of apricots, marmalade, and chocolate.

What's the flavor profile of Ardbeg Dolce?

The tasting notes for the Ardbeg Dolce whisky are as follows:

Nose: Aromas of apricot, raisins, and orange marmalade.
Palate: Spicy lemon peel, roasted nuts, dried herbs, smoldering applewood, and tacky peat oils.
Finish: Not mentioned.

The whisky is bottled at an alcohol percentage of 47,8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV).

When will the Ardbeg Dolce whisky be released?

The release date for Ardbeg's single malt whisky has not been announced. The label also does not disclose on which markets the whisky will debut, whether it will be an Ardbeg committee exclusive, or what the price of a bottle will be.