Ardbeg Smoketrails review

Ardbeg Smoketrails is a NAS (non age stated) whisky made for global travel retail. Which in my book, doesn’t sound tempting. Of course you have to always give a chance to every whisky, but my experience tells me that travel retail whiskies tend to be lower quality whiskies for masses.

Ardbeg has a great track record for whisky making. The distillery screams quality and is a household name for every peat lover. Its signature smoky whiskies have left their marks on whisky markets.

That’s why I was slightly hesitant, yet very eager to taste this one. Because every Ardbeg is worth a taste – with today’s prices not necessary worth the money though.

Like mentioned, this whisky has no age statement, it’s been matured in a marriage of American oak and Manzanilla fortified wine casks.

Ardbeg Smoketrails single malt whisky bottle standing on a pier next to a boat shed

Matured in:

American Oak and Ex-Manzanilla casks

ABV: 46%

Colour: Pale gold

Non-chill filtered, no added colour

Nose: Clinical smoke with lots of vanilla and sharp phenols. Drops of water brings grainy notes and salty sea air.

Taste: Peat and smoke dominate, hints of vanilla on the back. Addition of water and oxidation brings spicy nutty notes.

Finish: Peppers and smoke, slightly fruity. Like in the nose, addition of water brings more salty notes. Also seaweed.

Balance: Like anticipated, very straight forward smoky whisky. Young age shows, yet Arbeg trademark is there. Meaning that even though it’s not a rich whisky, it’s still quite tasty. Average Ardbeg but most likely would be a great achievement for some other distillery