Ardbeg Trudernish 15 years old: a first look!
With the Anthology series, Ardbeg already gave us a taste of what the distillery can do with the middle-aged stock in their warehouses. Now the brand new Ardbeg Trudernish 15 years old is introduced as a core range bottling. On top of that, we get a more orthodox cask recipe, even though it includes new charred oak in the mix, and a more than commendable abv with 48,8 %. With competitors like the classic Lagavulin 16 years old and the recently reintroduced Laphroaig 15 years old, the whisky enthusiasts are the overall winners. That is, if this Ardbeg Trudernish lives up to the expectations of course…
In the Netherlands I got my bottle from Passion for Whisky, well known as Ardbeg Embassey. They were kind enough to provide me with a sample, so I could share my first thoughts with you at lightning speed! Thanks guys!
Ardbeg Trudernish 15 years old, bottled at 48,8 % abv
First things first: This addition to the Ardbeg core range matured in bourbon casks, new charred oak and oloroso sherry casks.
Upon Sipping: Interesting, smoked banana on the nose. Nice, creamy notes of vanilla, soft peat, green dentist gloves and whiffs of sandy beaches. Claggain Bay near Trudernish is perhaps more known for pebbles than sand, as legend has it that whoever takes a stone home from there is bound to return to Islay. We continue with some charcoal and dustiness, and some smouldering plastic. The burnt notes predict that the new oak influence is going to be considerable. The arrival on the palate is oily and sweet, or “creamy harmony” as the label says. This is a good description indeed. The keyword for this Ardbeg Trudernish is balance, which is something I enjoy finding in a middle-aged dram. The finish carries the influence of the oloroso, with red fruit covered under a smoky layer. The drinking strength is excellent. Still, for scientific reasons, I added a drop of water. This seems to release more yellow fruit with a topping of warm ashes. Like dropping your marshmallow in the campfire and deciding to leave it there. On the palate the sweetness is increased with fruity flavours like yellow apples and touches of peach and mango. This Ardbeg Trudernish is so well-rounded that perhaps the finish is a tad too smooth, but overall the balance is impressive.
Word to the Wise: A fitting addition to the Ardbeg core range. It fills a gap between all the hard-hitting youngsters like the Ten and the Uigeadail and the more subtle older releases by Ardbeg. Because of the increased balance it loses some points compared to the more unforgiving The Beithir’s Tale 15 years old, but I believe this is intentional. The Ardbeg Trudernish will bring in new hordes of fans, as it will be an accessible entry to the brand.
Score: 86 points.