Ardbeg Galileo has landed.
Galileo, a vatting of different styles of Ardbeg laid down in 1999, is a combination of spirits that have been matured in ex-Marsala wine casks or in ex-bourbon casks. Together they create a sweet, smokey whiskey. The few thousand cases of the 12 year old whiskey made available are being picked up quickly and the space experiment that it was named after is going strong.
The beautiful packaging by Zing:
Invited by US Space Research Company, NanoRacks LLC, Ardbeg has been taking place in an experiment to test micro organic compounds in a maturation experiment since 2011. Vials of Ardbeg were launched into space and are currently maturing on the International Space Station.
The experiment will help explain the nature of "terpenes" compounds and will provide Ardbeg with information on new chemical building blocks in its own flavor spectrum.
Having recently become available, Galileo is restricted to two bottles per person (but already out of stock on the Ardbeg site). Bottled at a strength of 49% it is non chill-filtered for extra texture and mouth feel.
Tasting Notes
Aroma: A burst of intense smoky fruit escapes into the atmosphere. Add water and breathe in toasted vanilla, sizzling cinnamon and warm hazelnut.
Taste: An explosion of crackling peat ignites flavour explosions. Tangy lemon and lime juice, spiced toffee, followed by smooth buttermilk, bananas and currants. Smoke brims with creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows.
Finish: Long and smoky with tarry espresso
Ardbeg
Ardbeg only ships within the UK, however other specialty liquor stores around the world do carry the item. Prices seem to range from $89.99 to $199.99
Here are a few online stores that carry the product:
Worldwide merchants who carry the product
Single Malts Direct
Online merchants who ship world-wide