🥃 Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Corryvreckan is the strongest of the core Ardbeg whiskies: a peaty Islay single malt at 57.1% ABV (114.2 proof) with no age statement. The name comes from a whirlpool.
If you know Ardbeg Ten and want something stronger, Corryvreckan is the next step up. It is the strongest of the main Ardbeg expressions, at 57.1% ABV with no age on the label: a peaty single malt from Islay. The Whisky Shop describes it as heavily smoky, salty and tarry, with peppery warmth, bitter chocolate, dried fruit and coffee. The name comes from a well-known whirlpool nearby.
According to Whisky Saga, a release for the Ardbeg Committee club came out in 2008. Like any Scotch, the whisky is made from barley malt and matures in oak casks for at least three years. The cask type is not named in our sources, so we do not specify it. Sources describe the position of the whirlpool differently: north of Islay, or between the islands of Jura and Scarba.
Why this matters to you. Corryvreckan is the strongest reference point in the range, so a measure feels much stronger than a Ten (46%). Look at the percentage, not just the name. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | Ardbeg Committee release: 2008 (per Whisky Saga) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890) (Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Islay) |
| EU category | 2 — whisky/whiskey |
| Raw material | barley malt, heavily peated |
| Minimum maturation | at least 3 years by law; no age stated on the label |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 57.1% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Ardbeg Corryvreckan → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🥃 Barley and malt in whisky
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Ardbeg, 🥃 Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 🥃 Islay whisky
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Ardbeg An Oa, 🥃 Ardbeg An Oa, 🥃 Ardbeg Ten, 🥃 Ardbeg Uigeadail, 🥃 Ardbeg Wee Beastie, 🥃 Ardbeg Ten, 🥃 Ardbeg Uigeadail, 🥃 Ardbeg Wee Beastie, 🥃 Peated whisky, 🥃 Laphroaig Lore
Frequently asked questions
Is Corryvreckan named after an island?
No. The name comes from the Corryvreckan whirlpool; from the Gaelic Coirebhreacain, roughly 'cauldron of speckled seas'.
How strong is Ardbeg Corryvreckan in ABV and proof?
57.1% ABV, according to The Whisky Shop and Whisky Saga. In US proof terms that is 114.2.
Is Corryvreckan stronger than Ardbeg Ten?
Yes. Corryvreckan is 57.1% ABV against 46% for Ten, and Uigeadail sits in between at 54.2%.
Does Corryvreckan have an age statement?
No age is stated on the label. As with any Scotch, the whisky must mature in oak for at least three years.
When did Corryvreckan first appear?
The release for the Ardbeg Committee is dated 2008, according to Whisky Saga.
What to read next
- 🥃 Ardbeg An Oa — Ardbeg line with no age statement: peaty Islay whisky, 46.6% ABV (93.2 proof), from pedro ximenez, new oak and bourbon casks; softer than other Ardbegs.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden vessel made of oak staves in which wine matures, picks up new aromas and slowly takes in air.
- 🥃 Peated whisky — Whisky with a smoky aroma from malt dried over a peat fire; it is a style, not a separate legal category.
Similar
🥃 Ardbeg Ten · 🥃 Ardbeg Uigeadail · 🥃 Ardbeg Wee Beastie · 🥃 Ardbeg An Oa · 🥃 Laphroaig Triple Wood · 🥃 Ardmore Legacy
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- The Whisky Shop: Ardbeg Corryvreckan (57.1 %; no age statement; heavily peated; named after the whirlpool north of Islay)
- Whisky Saga: Ardbeg Corryvreckan, Committee release (NAS, 57.1 %; released in 2008; Corryvreckan whirlpool between Jura and Scarba; Gaelic Coirebhreacain)
- The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 (SI 2009/2890), reg. 3: Scotch Whisky and Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Scotland, oak up to 700 l, min. 3 years, min. 40 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)