Ardbeg – Traigh Bhan 19 Year Old Batch 5 2023 (70cl, 46.2%)

Traigh Bhan is Ardbeg's 19-year-old Islay single malt, and this is Batch 5, bottled at 46.2% ABV in a 70cl bottle. The name comes from the Singing Sands beach on Islay's south coast, which appears on the packaging. The batch was made from ex-bourbon casks and a larger share of ex-Oloroso sherry casks, with American oak also named. The selection differs slightly from earlier batches. Each batch carries its own code, a batch symbol and the initials of a well-known person at the distillery; this year they are Gillian Macdonald, Master Blender and Head of Whisky Creation at Ardbeg. It is described as tropical in character, with green pepper, smoked mango, and guava with maple bacon.