Ardbeg 19 years old Traigh Bhan Batch 5 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky 70 cl 46.2%

A small whitewashed warehouse on the Islay shore, salt in the air, and a batch that exists only until the next one takes its place.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

Traigh Bhan means white beach, named after the small bay just below the distillery. The series is released in a new batch every year, and each one is its own irreplaceable blend that disappears from the shelf once the next arrives. Batch 5 brings together casks that give the whisky a depth not always found in Ardbeg's more widely available releases, without losing the distillery's trademark backbone of peat and smoke.

The whisky is non-chill filtered, so everything the casks gave it along the way is still in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green peppers and a hint of smoked mango open things up, quickly followed by guava and a sweet whiff of maple syrup over crisp bacon.

Palate

Peat arrives first, warm and earthy, before the sherry casks unfold with dark fruit and a lightly salted caramel.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a finish of toasted nuts and a last trace of sea salt.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5010494980943

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Salty

Did You Know?

Traigh Bhan takes its name from a small white beach right below the distillery, a name mostly known only to the locals.

See our full range of Ardbeg

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5

How smoky is Traigh Bhan Batch 5?

It carries Ardbeg's classic peat and smoke, but the Oloroso casks add a layer of dark fruit and sherry sweetness that rounds the smoke off compared to the distillery's most uncompromising releases.

What sets Batch 5 apart from earlier batches?

Every batch of Traigh Bhan is built from a new combination of casks, so the flavour shifts from year to year. Batch 5 stands out for a pronounced fruitiness from the sherry casks that won't necessarily reappear in the next release.

Is Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5 worth it?

It's a 19-year-old whisky from one of Islay's most sought-after distilleries, blended into a limited batch that vanishes once the next one takes over. The age and non-chill filtered bottling make it a serious bottle for the enthusiast.

How should the bottle be stored?

Upright, cool and dark, with the cap sealed tightly so the whisky isn't exposed to too much air between pours.

What glass should I serve it in?

A tulip-shaped whisky glass holds onto the smoky aromas best and lets you follow how the peat opens up in the glass over time.

Should it be drunk neat or with water?

Try it neat first. A few drops of water can later coax the sherry notes forward if you find the smoke dominates too much at the start.

What makes the Ardbeg distillery special on Islay?

Ardbeg sits on Islay's south coast and is known as one of the island's most uncompromising distilleries, where peat from the local bogs leaves a heavy mark on everything it produces.