Ardbeg
Traigh Bhan - Batch 5
- 46.2
- 70cl
- Taste: 4
- Islay
The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815 but there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie...
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The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815 but there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie Company who, after updating the distillery, fully reopened it the following year. Moet Hennessy brought the whole company in 2004, and built a new still house in 2019, which is now running to capacity of 2.1 million litres of alcohol per year.
Bottled in humidity, this rare small batch 19-year-old Ardbeg is arguably the most tropical dram to leave the Distillery.
Notes of fresh green peppers, smoked mango and guava mingle with maple bacon on the nose. A deep smokiness gives waves of aniseed, burnt heather, and spiced chive. A satisfyingly long, sizzling finish brings with it notes of warm toffee fudge and smoked butter.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour - Sparkling Sunrise
Aroma - Perfumed aromas of luscious tropical fruit flow on the breeze. While curious notes of herbal incense and smoke follow closely behind. Menthol lozenge and saddle soap laps over charred green pepper. Smoked mango, guava and coconut mingle in an effervescing top note.
Taste - A creamy mouthfeel leads the way into a crashing symphony of herbal, spicy flavours. Meanwhile, smoked maple cured bacon, charcoal, white pepper and clove rush forth amid gentle overtones of the outdoors in wood smoke and sea spray.
Finish - A satisfyingly long finish consequently welcomes more tropical notes. With fragrant heather, warm toffee and smoked butter on the horizon.
Limited to 2 bottles per customer
Bottled in humidity, this rare small batch 19-year-old Ardbeg is arguably the most tropical dram to leave the Distillery.
Notes of fresh green peppers, smoked mango and guava mingle with maple bacon on the nose. A deep smokiness gives waves of aniseed, burnt heather, and spiced chive. A satisfyingly long, sizzling finish brings with it notes of warm toffee fudge and smoked butter.
Official Tasting Notes
Colour - Sparkling Sunrise
Aroma - Perfumed aromas of luscious tropical fruit flow on the breeze. While curious notes of herbal incense and smoke follow closely behind. Menthol lozenge and saddle soap laps over charred green pepper. Smoked mango, guava and coconut mingle in an effervescing top note.
Taste - A creamy mouthfeel leads the way into a crashing symphony of herbal, spicy flavours. Meanwhile, smoked maple cured bacon, charcoal, white pepper and clove rush forth amid gentle overtones of the outdoors in wood smoke and sea spray.
Finish - A satisfyingly long finish consequently welcomes more tropical notes. With fragrant heather, warm toffee and smoked butter on the horizon.
Limited to 2 bottles per customer
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig