Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Review of Batch 1

Photo credit: Bry Simpson

Newly introduced Traigh Bhan is the second core range Ardbeg with an age statement. The first, the ten year old, was introduced almost two decades ago. This is, in the Ardbeg world, a big deal. 

It’ll be batched uniquely from year to year based on the stock of available old barrels. It’s a mixture of American oak and Oloroso sherry barrels (not finished, but fully aged), and it comes in at around at a $300 price point.

So it’s a first Ardbeg of a core expression, with a first batch number, with variations in flavor expected in the future. Ardbeg rare releases and old 10 Year Olds have a big collectibility aspect to them. This is going to slide right in. Basically, if you love Ardbeg, you’ll likely buy two bottles of this—one for today, and one for later on in life. 

Ardbeg 19yo Traigh Bhan - 2019 Original Release 46.2% ABV
Ardbeg Distillery
Category: Single malt scotch, peated, American oak, Oloroso Sherry 
Score: 93

Nose: Cinnamon spice, beautiful caramel, buttery, and smoky. The caramel note is just right. The nose is subtle but present. In time you’ll get a nice red apple note, pineapple, and a freshly cut bread. It’s pretty great. 

Palate: Lots of terrific cinnamon buttery notes, great oak spice, and peppery spice and buttery finish. For a 19 year old whisky, this is quite the hit of flavour. It’s not a gentle older whisky. Does Ardbeg even make gentle? At the beginning the caramel notes are less on the palate as compared to the nose, but the finish is all caramel, butter and spice. Touches of orange citrus. A touch medicinal, light on tobacco. It’s one of those mouth-watering whiskies that stays with you into a long finish, but then you want another pour. The drinkability is quite high, and the complexity is there. 

Conclusion: In the world of collectable single malt scotches, and coming from a distillery as famous as Ardbeg, this is a pretty great buy for drinkers in this price range. It’s complex, gentle, difficult, and challenging at the same time. It will, undoubtably, fit with many Ardbeg drinkers (myself included). 

Disclaimer: I received a small sample of this whisky from their brand ambassador. It had no influence on this review.