Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old - Batch 2 (70cl, 46.2%)

It's the second batch of Ardbeg's Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old single malt! Like the first batch, this excellent Islay whisky was drawn from a combo of American oak and Oloroso sherry casks, though with a subtle tweak to the recipe according to the Ardbeg folks, making for a distinctive dram. The name comes from local Traigh Bhan beach on Islay, which is sometimes known as the Singing Sands.

Nose: On the nose, faint ripples of sweet wood smoke and tart crème fraîche flow gently into bold notes of savoury fennel, celeriac and roasted tea leaves. Plunge further and discover alluring aromas of charcoal and lightly burnt toast. A splash of water releases a gust of fresh sea spray, followed by eucalyptus oil and pine. Finally, this irresistible nose ends with an unmistakable top note of saddle soap and leather.

Palate: An intensely salty mouthfeel shifts like the tides into soothing medicinal notes, followed by salted peanut brittle, smoked pineapple and lime juice. Waves of aniseed lap over the palate, before rich fudge, birch tar and peat smoke crash down wildly. This is a dram that coaxes you in, and all assumptions are best left behind. Simply let this alluring spirit surprise and delight.

Finish: Savoury and smoky notes collide in a sharp, intense, yet satisfyingly long finish.