Ardbeg is firing up the grill with Acme Fire Cult in Dalston to celebrate the launch of Ardbeg’s first barbecue-inspired limited edition whisky, BizarreBQ. The collaboration will see the launch of an exclusive Ardbeg menu at the Dalston hotspot. Grilling and distilling share a key element in the creation of flavour - fire - making the limited edition single malt scotch whisky, BizarreBQ, the ideal grill-side accompaniment to the offering at Acme Fire Cult, a live-fire concept.
Ardbeg BizarreBQ has been cleverly designed to pair perfectly with smoky food, so from 1 August 2023, Ardbeg will celebrate this whisky with a dedicated cocktail menu curated by Jamie Barter, bar manager at Acme Fire Cult. This will feature the ‘Harissa Penicillin’ for a fiery blend of citrus, honey and ginger, the ‘Mid-Summer Highball’ which offers a fresh combination with vermouth and elderflower, and the ‘Slushie Affogato’ for a smoky take on the salted-caramel, coffee and vanilla-based serve. The cocktail menu will be available until the end of August, in addition to an exclusive dessert pairing which will consist of a dram of Ardbeg’s limited edition BizarreBQ and a peated malt and brown butter cake, caramel, and Ardbeg poached plums with praline cream to top off the ultimate summer BBQ experience.
All of this will be available to enjoy alongside the constantly evolving menu at Acme Fire Cult, from chefs Andrew Clarke and Daniel Watkins. The restaurant offers an
alternative approach to live-fire cooking: vegetables take centre stage on its unique menu, alongside rare and native breed meat from regenerative farms and dayboat fish, all cooked on its outdoor grill. Through the menu's use of beer by-products from sister venue 40FT Brewery, food and drink are intrinsically linked at Acme Fire Cult, making it the perfect location to explore the distinctive flavour profile of Ardbeg BizarreBQ, the distillery’s first ever barbecue-inspired whisky.
To accompany the smoky menu, an exclusive BizarreBQ-inspired mural designed by graffiti artist, Mr Cenz (aka Julian Phethean), will also feature on the wall of Acme Fire Cult.
Ardbeg BizarreBQ is brought to life with double-charred oak casks; Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and unique Ardbeg BBQ casks, resulting in a combination of sweet, tangy and savoury notes that capture the flavours of smoky barbecue. The liquid has been inspired by Ardbeg’s ongoing collaboration with BBQ chef extraordinaire, Christian Stevenson, also known as DJ BBQ. Fuelled by a shared obsession for smoke and its vast, rich flavour possibilities, Ardbeg BizarreBQ has been cooked up by the creative mind of Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, in partnership with DJ BBQ. This whisky is a single malt that packs a meaty, peaty punch and complements the true character of delicious barbecue food.
Visit Acme Fire Cult this August to enjoy food fresh off the coals, and discover a whisky like no other. The exclusive Ardbeg cocktail menu and dessert pairing will be available at Acme Fire Cult, Abbot St, London E8 3DP from 1 August to 31 August 2023, and tables can be booked at https://www.acmefirecult.com/the-restaurant.
