Ardbeg – 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 6 (70cl, 46.2%)

This is Ardbeg Traigh Bhan Batch 6, a 19 year old Islay single malt from the distillery's annually changing Traigh Bhan series. It was distilled in 2005 and bottled in 2024 at 46.2%, without chill-filtration or added colour, in a 70cl bottle. The whisky matured in a combination of bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Its strong peat smoke is joined by dark chocolate and a minty freshness. The series takes its name from the Traigh Bhan beach on Islay, where the sand is said to make singing sounds underfoot. On the nose there are olive oil, fresh-cut grass, ginger, soot and tar. The palate brings smoked pineapple, dark chocolate and peppermint, and the long finish fades with coffee grounds and liquorice.