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On the remote Scottish island of Islay, Ardbeg whiskey has cultivated and nurtured its name and spirit since commercial production began in 1815. The years have been good to the acclaimed distillery, and with the new Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 years Lot 5inspiration continues to be drawn from the sands of Islay, this expression of the name Traigh Bhan (pronounced tri-van), also known as Singing Sands.
From this ever-evolving batch of Ardbeg Traigh Bhan whisky, Ardbeg Gillian Macdonald, Master Blender and responsible for creating the whisky, said: “We are delighted to offer whiskey lovers and collectors around the world the opportunity to explore another new version of this incredibly balanced favourite. We hope this bottling will spark conversations between Ardbeggians and their friends about the finer details of this ever-evolving whisky.
The Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 year old was aged in classic Ardbeg ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry barrelsthe sherry casks contributing to the subtle sweetness and smoothness of the whisky, a further evolution for this particular version and a technique often used by Scottish distilleries in their finishing.
This is the fifth batch of Ardbeg Traigh Bhan, and the previous batches all had their own unique bottling methods. This batch was bottled in humidity and the distillery claims this expression as having the most tropical profile. In the past, bottling used coastal mists and full moons, conditions which creators believe impart special characteristics to the whisky.
Each batch also bears a unique code, a batch symbol and the initials of one of the great names in the distillery; the initials of this lot come from the aforementioned Macdonald. 19-year-old Permanente Traigh Bhan has received honors such as Gold Awards from the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) and the International Spirits Challenge (ISC).
We review Ardbeg 19 year old Traigh Bhan, now in its fifth release. It was aged in Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks. (image via Ardbeg)
Tasting notes: Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 years Lot 5
Vital Stats: Aged 19; Not cold filtered; Matured in Oloroso sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks; 46.2% blood alcohol content; Small batch release, bottling in humidity; SRP $349.99.
Appearance: The color of soft desert sand.
Nose: A light smoke, familiar, comforting. Notes of pineapple and menthol, with a soapiness of eucalyptus that appears after some airtime.
Palace: This whiskey is smooth and quiet. Light smoke that doesn’t burst, but settles gently in the mouth. Notes of green olive, persimmon, and black tea provide a savory experience, and the sweetness is clear and present.
