Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6 19-Years-Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky Review

The tiny Scottish island of Islay is home to about 3000 people, yet is home to ten working distilleries making some of the peatiest whiskies in the world. They are Ardnahoe, Bowmore, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, Laphroaig, and Port Ellen, which only reopened this past March after 41 years. 

 

The tenth is Ardbeg, situated on Islay’s southern coast and founded in 1815 by John Macdougal. In 1838, he sold it to Thomas Buchanan; however, John’s son, Alexander, continued to run operations. Alexander died in 1853, and his sisters, Margaret and Flora, assumed control, along with Colin Hay. Margaret and Flora are one of the earliest female Scotch distillers on record; the first was Helen Cumming, who founded Cardhu in 1824. 

 

Ownership returned to the Macdougals when, in 1922, Alexander Macdougal & Co. purchased Ardbeg in its entirety. Then, in 1977, Hiram Walker acquired it only to shutter the distillery in 1981 due to minuscule demand. Its closure severely impacted the local economy, as while it only employed 18 people, the town relied heavily on the distillery. 

 

In 1987, Hiram Walker was sold to Allied Lyons, and in 1989, the distillery rose from the ashes, only to be mothballed again two years later. In 1997, The Glenmorangie Company purchased Ardbeg, its current owner.

 

“From the Ardbeg Distillery to Port Ellen and beyond, follow the rocky coast and you will discover the heavenly vista of Traigh Bhan (pronounced tri-van), the beautiful beach known locally as the Singing Sands… 

For this captivating place has soft white sands that sing beneath your feet, a hum that ebbs and flows with the winds and the tides. But beguiling as this place is, do not drop your guard. Bathing is ill-advised in the seemingly tame crystal waters where jagged, volcanic rocks pierce the sands along the shore.” - Ardbeg

 

Today, we’ll dive deep into Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6 Single Malt Scotch. Ardbeg considers this an especially rare whisky. Like any other single malt Scotch, it is distilled from 100% malted barley in a pot still. The distillate slept 19 years in ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It is non-chill filtered, naturally colored, packaged at 46.2% ABV (92.4°), and has a suggested retail price of $299.99. For the record, Ardbeg is known for its heavily-peated whiskies; they’re very proud of that!

 

Ardbeg has graciously made this #DrinkCurious opportunity happen by providing me with a sample in exchange for my no-strings-attached, honest review.

 

Appearance: I poured this Scotch into my Glencairn glass to sip neat. It possessed a bright, golden color. A medium rim created thick, fast tears.

 

Nose: The peat came out screaming as I poured it into my glass. I allowed it to rest for about 15 minutes before touching it. The whole time, I was smelling the peat. The peat was like fireplace ash as I brought the glass under my nostrils. Also present were chocolate, earth, and pineapples. Drawing the air through my lips revealed thick vanilla and oak.  

 

Palate: Traigh Bhan’s mouthfeel was thick and creamy. I prepared myself for a tidal wave of peat. Indeed, it was smoky and ashy but not as strong as I anticipated. Grilled pineapples and ginger spice were also on the front. Midway through, I discovered light mint, vanilla, and dark chocolate. The back tasted of oak, fennel, and slightly overbaked bread.

 

Finish: The peat permeated through the last second of the finish. Meanwhile, there was a quick blast of fennel, overbaked bread, grilled pineapples, and cocoa. Overall, it was arid. I timed it at 2:35, categorizing it as long.

 

Bottle, Bar, or Bust: Once you get into multiples of $100, the value statement of any whisky becomes challenging to accept, and you have to consider what’s in front of you. Traigh Bhan is a 19-year-old, 90+° Islay single-malt Scotch. That’s automatically ramping up the price into the mid-to-upper $200s, even if you knock off a year or so.

 

As for the entire drinking journey, this is another stupendously impressive Ardbeg expression, yet it is not a toe-dipping experience into peated whiskies; Traigh Bhan Batch 6 is geared for hardcore peat heads (like me). It is smoky, ashy, and will suck the moisture right out of your mouth, and you’ll be left begging for your next sip. If you see a Bottle, pick it up. Cheers!

 

My Simple, Easy-to-Understand Rating System

• Bottle = Buy It
• Bar = Try It
• Bust = Leave It

 

Whiskeyfellow encourages you to enjoy your whiskey as you see fit but begs you to do so responsibly.