Islay icon Ardbeg has expanded its core range with the release of Trudernish, the distillery’s first-ever permanent 15-year-old single malt.
While Ardbeg has previously explored this age statement through ultra-rare single cask bottlings in the 2000s and as the final release in last year's Anthology Collection, Trudernish will be the first expression now permanently anchored in the brand's lineup.
The whisky is described as ‘a dram of soft smoke and creamy harmony’, and is aged in a combination of new charred oak, Bourbon, and Oloroso Sherry casks.
Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation, said that the expression promises a rich and velvety creaminess.
On the nose, dense billows of peat and woodsmoke lead to vanilla ice cream. The palate reveals classic peat, bittersweet dark liquorice, and toasted nuts with smooth milk chocolate, all anchored by a continuous, silky ribbon of vanilla that carries through to a 'long, smoldering finish'.
The expression pays homage to the ancient settlement of Trudernish along the "Enchanted Cape." Local legend speaks of a hidden well whose pure, elusive waters remain unfrozen even in the depths of winter, and inspired what the distillery calls the spirit's rare and timeless character.
The release of the Trudernish also marks the debut of a redesigned packaging concept that will extend across Ardbeg’s full core range.
Retaining the brand’s iconic black aesthetic with distinct earthy color coding, the new labels and boxes incorporate woodcut-style artwork by illustrator Johnny Greenteeth, providing consumers with a clear overview of each whisky's story, cask maturation, and flavor profile.
Bottled at 48.8% ABV, the 700ml bottle has an MSRP of £80 (US$108).
Kanpai!
88 Bamboo Editorial Team
