Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Batch 2 (2020)

Nose: Citrus notes of lime, meyer lemon, and orange oil mingle with sweet pineapple. A distinct iodine and brine character evokes 19 years of sea spray. Spicy elements of black pepper and wintergreen are balanced by fennel. The peat is unmistakable, accompanied by lingering ash. Despite its age, the aroma remains bright and vibrant, avoiding a heavy impression while still being rich. Pine resin, grilled meats, and vegetables add savory depth. Herbal notes of thyme, bay leaf, and basil are present, along with camphor. A subtle nuttiness, reminiscent of parmesan, has a hint of mustiness or butyric acid. Fresh cut grass and seaweed contribute earthy tones. Spices like cumin, smoked paprika, and ground coriander add complexity. Leather and wet hay round out the profile. This nose closely matches the imagined profile of an ideal Ardbeg. Palate: The taste mirrors the nose with peat, ash, iodine, and brine, followed by mint, orange, and cream. An excellent interplay exists between the bourbon cask's vanilla and brown sugar and the sherry cask's dark fruits and nuttiness. Oak is present, offering noticeable tannins in taste and texture without being overwhelming. Well-worn leather notes emerge. The bright lime and lemon character persists, maintaining vibrancy and dynamism without detracting from richer elements. Thyme, basil, and grilled fennel are detected. The palate is beautifully cohesive, featuring white pepper, ground chipotle, nutmeg, and clove. Smoked meats and cheeses are complemented by bitter chocolate. The experience evokes walking into a classic library with dusty books, leather chairs, oak shelves, and cigar/pipe smoke. This is exceptionally balanced with a medium mouthfeel. Finish: A wave of brine, peat, ash, and wintergreen rushes in. Lime zest and cream become prominent, with hints of seaweed and fresh cut grass. The profile gradually transitions to hot chocolate made with milk and marshmallows, enriched with extra vanilla. It then evolves into Mexican hot chocolate and espresso. The lime reappears before the finish fades on chili chocolate, lime, peat, subtle ash, and mint, indicating a lot is happening here. The finish is quite long and complex. Other notes: This is a stunning expression. Many experienced reviewers have noted its vibrancy for such a mature spirit, and they are absolutely correct. The age manifests in both cohesive flavors and aromas, as well as a significant cask influence, with both bourbon and sherry notes more prominent than usual. There's also a pronounced oak presence. One could spend hours exploring this bottling. Adding water reveals beautiful floral characteristics, like sweet roses and orange blossoms, along with candied apples. If you have the opportunity to try a glass, seize it. If you're considering a bottle and are uncertain, go for it. While the price may be a deterrent, fans of Islay and well-aged spirits will not be disappointed. I hope to always have a bottle of Traigh Bhan in my collection, and this year's release exemplifies why.

Another year, another Ardbeg 19. Let's dive in and handle the details later. Smell: Classic Ardbeg smoky and peaty notes. A light sweetness like candied cigars, which I often find in Islay whiskies. There's lemon-lime fruit, some raisins, and a sweet, rich sherry. Vanilla notes are also present. I see this as smoke meeting citrus and spice. It's like a beach barbecue with a fruity cocktail in the sunshine. Taste: The lemon-lime citrus is prominent from the start, truly reminding me of the 10 year old turned up to eleven. I've said that about a previous batch, but this is much more noticeable. Initially, there's a good amount of Ardbeg salt and peat. As it moves to the mid-palate, smoke billows up, and the finish brings old oak casks with oak spice and a fantastic oak character. The finish is very long, deep, and rich. I'm quite impressed. Comparing to last year's? Smell: Last year's is instantly darker, richer, and frankly, not fruity. Chocolate and cool notes were mentioned for the 2019, and while I didn't really get that, next to the 2020's lemon-lime notes, I can see chocolate now. The 2019 has more upfront spice, definitely a more chocolate oloroso note, but the finish is considerably less impressive. I also detect more menthol in the 2019. The 2020 is distinctly different, so anyone thinking they've had last year's means they've had this year's should reconsider. I do prefer the upfront flavor profile of the 2019, but the finish and even mouthfeel of the 2020 seem to be a step up, perhaps two steps up on the finish. I did find that the 2019 opened up significantly over time, and the lemon-lime faded a bit for me, though it was still there in my recent review with a friend on his YouTube channel (the video may not be released for a few weeks). So, I'm curious if this one will expand and change as much as last year's has done in the bottle. I believe I was too generous with the 4.0 last year for the 19, and I'm correcting it here with a 3.5 for this one, and I'll adjust the previous one to a 3.5 as well. If I had to choose, I think I prefer the 2020, and I do believe the 2019 improved with time, so this might move to a 3.75 with some aging. So, the retail price in the US will be at least $300 again, and I got this in the UK for about £215 plus £20-£30 for shipping. It's an easy purchase of two bottles at the £240 all-in price point. A tough recommendation if you're looking at $320+ after tax in the US. But if you're an Ardbeg fan, this delivers and it's not disappointing like Drum and Blaaack were.

"Traigh Bhan" is the Gaelic term for "white sands that sing beneath your feet". That is a magical way to start this review of a 19yo Ardbeg, something that is very luxurious in this day and age, where 5yo Ardbegs are as expensive as any other 12yo whisky. Traigh Bhan is actually pronounced "tri-van" and it is the beach located next to the distillery. This is my review from the Batch No. 2, bottled at 46.2%abv, with a pale straw color. On the nose, a very complex and fun Ardbeg. Swamp, Merthiolate and pineapple. Wood polisher, pharmacy and gooseberries. The second aroma was wonderful: coconut dessert, vanilla Ice cream, smoke and a horse sadle. On the palate it is very simple, but also it is fantastic. It has this out of this world flavor of coconut milk, grated coconut and vanilla. Sawdust. In Ecuador there is a very cheap handcrafted brand of ice creams called "Ideal", it is exactly like that. Grandma's drawers (you know exactly that note). Aftertaste follows the same profile. Grated coconut, sawdust, mild smoke and soap. Overall, this one was simple but awesome. I get that sometimes older single malts tend to be easy drinkable and sometimes boring, because most of the times they are intended to big pockets who don't necessarily know a lot about whisky. This is not entirely the case, because even if it is not very complex, and it is a little straightforward, this is very well crafted, it is just delicious. I can also see some hardcore Ardbeg fans hating it due to a lack of power or heavy smoke. For me, it was great and my score for it is a well deserved 94 over 100.

(Online Zoom tasting event, December 9th, 2020. Hosted by the Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie). Nose: Charcoal. Salt/brine. Sweet black tea. Palate: More of the salt, but with a good hit of medicinal iodine/TCP and some aniseed. There is some BBQ smoke, but less meaty than a 10y/o. There's some lime and more of the black tea that was hinted at on the nose. Finish: Tobacco, smokey. Tannic and woody. More of the campfire and saltiness. There is an odd, welcome sweetness at the finish, it's not the most obvious note, but it is definitely there at the finish. This is a fantastic dram. There is a drying mouthfeel with a long (almost dusty) finish, so it could never be a session whisky, but well worth the occasional dram.

Nose: smoldering embers, peat smoke, earth, sugary notes, honey Taste: saline, ocean spray, rubber and sugar, the smoke is present, masking the sugar, which emerges as the ash clears. The sugar is an orange or tangerine essence, I believe. Finish: moderate duration, astringent as it recedes This spirit is highly sippable and delightful. It possesses sufficient intricacy to engage the palate. Thoroughly appreciating this bottle, I almost regret its easy-drinking nature, as it's vanishing quicker than I'd prefer.

Aroma: a generally subtle and nuanced profile. Peat and clean wood smoke. A trace of crisp sweet green apple. Hints of spices like cardamom and cinnamon with pepper. Aged leather and tobacco. Palate: light-bodied but with a smooth, velvety texture. Peat and smoke are prominent Finish: peat and smoke linger indefinitely. Black pepper is forward but subsides. Saline. Late hints of the spices from the nose. Overall: Impressive. Complex and beautifully constructed.