Traigh Bhan is the oldest regularly released Ardbeg, and it works on a different principle from the rest of the range. Rather than a single fixed recipe repeated year after year, it is issued in annual small batches, each drawn from a different selection of casks and each carrying its own batch code, its own bottling strength and its own character. This bottle is Batch 02, bottled in 2020, and the code is printed in full on the front label. Nineteen years is a long time for a heavily peated Islay malt. Peat does not simply persist across two decades, it transforms, and what starts as aggressive smoke matures into something closer to incense, roasted tea and dry ash. The maturation here runs across American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, the former supplying vanilla and coconut sweetness, the latter dried fruit and a nutty depth, and both working to round out a spirit that has already lost most of its youthful ferocity to time. The distillery's own note is precise and worth quoting as guidance: fresh lime, roasted tea leaves, smoked pineapple. That tropical fruit character is the signature of well aged Islay whisky and it is very much present. The name comes from Traigh Bhan, the Singing Sands beach near the distillery, and the label records that this batch was bottled under a thick haze. Distillery manager Mickey Heads is named on the label, which dates the bottling precisely. Non chill filtered at 46.2 percent. Drink it neat and slowly.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46.2% |
| Proof |
92.4 |
| Size |
700ml (70cl) |
| Country |
Scotland |
| Region |
Islay |
| Category |
Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Expression |
Traigh Bhan, Small Batch Release |
| Age |
19 years |
| Batch |
TB/02-18.09.00/20.JT |
| Year Bottled |
2020 |
| Maturation |
American oak and Oloroso sherry casks |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Colour |
Natural, no added colouring |
| Distillery Manager |
Mickey Heads |
| Distillery |
Ardbeg Distillery Limited, established 1815 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm gold with amber depth, natural and uncoloured.
Nose: Fresh lime leads, with roasted tea leaves and smoked pineapple over aged peat that has softened into incense and dry ash.
Palate: Rounded and layered, with tropical fruit sweetness against Oloroso dried fruit and nuttiness, vanilla from American oak, and a gentle mature smoke running underneath.
Finish: Long and elegant, closing on tea, citrus peel and a soft, drifting smoke.
FAQ
What proof is this bottle? Batch 02 is bottled at 92.4 proof, or 46.2 percent alcohol by volume, non chill filtered. Traigh Bhan batches vary in strength, so other batches differ.
What does the batch code mean? Traigh Bhan is released in annual small batches, each drawn from a different cask selection. This bottle is TB/02-18.09.00/20.JT, meaning Batch 02, bottled in 2020. Collectors buy and compare specific batches.
How old is it? Nineteen years, guaranteed on the label. It is the oldest regularly released Ardbeg expression.
What casks was it matured in? American oak and Oloroso sherry casks. American oak brings vanilla and coconut, while Oloroso contributes dried fruit and a nutty depth.
How is the name pronounced and what does it mean? Traigh Bhan refers to the Singing Sands, a beach near the distillery on Islay.
Where can I buy Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
