Ardbeg – Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 2 2020 (70cl, 46.2%)

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan 19 Years Old Batch 2 is the second release in a series of annual batches, each with a different composition. It was matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2% ABV in a 70cl bottle, without chill-filtering. The name comes from the Singing Sands beach on the south coast of Islay. The nose offers sweet wood smoke, crème fraîche tart, fennel, celery and roasted tea leaves, then charcoal and lightly burnt toast. With water come sea spray, eucalyptus oil and pine. The palate begins intensely salty, with salted peanut brittle, smoked pineapple, lime juice, aniseed, fudge, birch tar and peat smoke. The finish is savoury and smoky.