Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition Single Islay Malt Whisky 100 cl 46%

Californian sunshine and Scottish peat meet in one glass, as if Ardbeg took a detour through Napa Valley on the way home to Islay.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks and bottled at 46%.

The bottle belongs to the Smoketrails series, where Ardbeg travels the globe for casks that have never before touched a drop of Scotch whisky and lets them enter a dialogue with the distillery's peat smoke. This time it's the bold red wine casks from Napa Valley leaving their mark, in the current Batch US/NV 2024/03.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries and intense peat smoke mingle with a hint of spice and a light winey sweetness from the red wine casks.

Palate

Rich and well balanced, where peat smoke meets ripe fruit, oak and a gentle sweetness from the wine.

Finish

Long and lingering, with an elegant combination of smoke and tannin that leaves a rounded finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks
Edition: Batch US/NV 2024/03
EAN no.: 5010494991598

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Winey · Spiced

Did You Know?

The Smoketrails series is Ardbeg's travel diary in a bottle, with every release drawing on casks from a new corner of the world, and the Napa Valley edition is the first to use American red wine casks.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition

What is the Smoketrails series?

It's a series from Ardbeg where the whisky is matured in casks sourced from wine regions around the world, so the peat smoke meets entirely new flavour worlds with every release.

How does the Napa Valley edition compare to a classic Ardbeg?

The peat is still clearly there, but the Cabernet Sauvignon casks add a winey fruitiness and a light tannic structure not found in the distillery's core range.

Is Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition worth it?

As a batch-limited travel release with a cask combination that won't be repeated, it's a great pick for the enthusiast who wants to taste Ardbeg from a new angle.

Why does the bottle come in 100cl?

The Smoketrails series is typically sold in the larger 100cl bottle rather than the classic 70cl, giving you more whisky to share or enjoy over time.

Should Smoketrails Napa Valley be drunk neat or with water?

Try it neat first, so the wine cask fruit and the peat smoke can fully meet, and add just a drop of water if you want a softer experience.

Which glass suits it best?

A tulip-shaped whisky glass holds onto both the smoke and the winey aromas well, letting you follow how they interact in the nose.

What defines Ardbeg as a distillery?

Ardbeg sits on Islay's south coast and is known for one of the island's most uncompromising peated styles, whatever casks the whisky experiments with.