Ardbeg – Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition (1L, 46%)

An Islay single malt from Ardbeg, the third edition in the Smoketrails series, in a 1 litre bottle at 46%. It marries whisky from Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon wine casks with Ardbeg matured in bourbon casks, a cask combination the distillery had not used before for a bottling. It is non-chill-filtered and has no added colour. The Cabernet Sauvignon casks add a floral side to the smoky Ardbeg style. The nose combines deep smoke with rose sweets, Turkish delight, rye bread, smoked plums and campfire embers; water brings out jasmine, rosewater and lavender. The palate is soft, with baked bread, black olives and rose-scented chocolate truffles, tarry rope, espresso macchiato and old leather. The finish carries smoke and oak, cooled by menthol, eucalyptus and camphor.