Ardbeg Smoketrails

Overall rating
85.70/100
votes
211
Whiskybase ID
WB217669
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottling serie
for Travel Retail
Bottled
23.08.2022
Casktype
America Oak & Manzanilla
Casknumber
B SP/MZL: 2022/01-ST
Strength
46.0 % Vol.
Size
1000 ml 1000 ml
Bottle code
L2463129, L2463130
Barcode
5010494979534
Added on
18 sep 2022 8:58 pm by BatchOne
UncoloredNon-chillfiltered

Average value

€ 172.59

159 × in wishlist

211 × member ratings

1417 × in collection

Whisky reviews for Ardbeg Smoketrails

45 users have left 45 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 85.70 points.

  1. Kantenmechaniker scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    I really like it, it would be nice if he showed up at an airport in Germany, the combination of Ardbeg and Manzanilla fits great
    • Nose
      Beautifully fruity and sweet, the Ardbeg resonates well, lemon, the typical sweetness, ashy smoke, creamy, sugared and dried light fruit, vanilla, also a pinch of coffee, briefly also banana, minimally sticky, light spice that joins the smoke , white gummy bears, I like it, also a brief hint of chocolate
    • Taste
      Smooth, sweet, nice smoke, burnt waffle, sweet fruit, burnt cake batter, vanilla, gummy bears again, with jelly filling, pineapple, peach, a little immature
    • Finish
      Ash, mint, fresh, sweet with a light tingling acidity, pleasant, fills the entire mouth, the pineapple comes through really well here

  2. Create a free Whiskybase account to read all 45 reviews for this whisky
    Create free account
  3. OSBee scored this whisky 85 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
      - smoke
      - iodine
      - salty
      - Citrus with lemon zest
      - Sue
      - some cake sheets

      Overall, it's Ardbek's dry character, but
      If you inhale deeply, the sweetness settles inside.
      Taste of Madeleine lightly sprinkled with lemon oil
      I still can't feel the smell
      If citrus and sweetness are mixed and bred, there is a possibility that it will change to a sour nuance.
    • Taste
      84 84
      - smoke
      - strong lemon citrus
      - Over-roasted spice
      - Sue

      There is only a slightly sweet nuance, and the savoryness covers it up
    • Finish
      84 84
      - smoke
      - Burned Spice
      - The water smells fishy. A little bit similar to the dejection car
      - Sue

  4. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Overall a decent Ardbeg. Who can come up with tart and nutty salty manzanilla barrel notes. However, he appears light, sometimes thin and almost fragile. Haven't had an Ardbeg for a long time, it's OK, but I'm not enthusiastic about it now.
    • Nose
      Roasted peanuts, tar, salty, a bit restless peat, seems a bit young, but there are citrus notes typical of Ardbeg, which are accompanied by nutty manzanilla notes, it seems rather sweet and salty. Right umami. But youth is still written all over his face.
    • Taste
      Smoky and tart in the mouth, almost bitter. This is unexpected. Here the barrel and the brandy pushes a piece of burnt 90% chocolate into your mouth without humor and without sweetness. A sweet glimpse of light softly in the background.
    • Finish
      The finish is tart, quite mild, a bit salty tart, dark chocolate. Ashy smoky. Rather short.

  5. GLENRIGI scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  6. Pater_Erison scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
      Lemon peel. Gentle smoke, not too peaty, more bonfire than medical. Some fruity notes.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Sweet, toffee notes, milk chocolate, then the citric notes from the nose are coming back. Smoke is rather gentle.
    • Finish
      89 89
      Long. Now reconcilable peaty, yet sweet.

  7. mister glenfarclas scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Unfortunately(!) I can't keep up with the general euphoria (or is it hype?) about the Smoketrails. On the contrary, I'm a bit disappointed because my expectations were different and I was really looking forward to this new bottling. But to get straight to the point: I think the Smoketrails ranks at the bottom of the current standard range. I would prefer both the Wee Beastie and the Ten. Not to mention An Oa, Uigeadail and Corry.

    But to the notes:
    A light straw yellow in the glass. I would have expected something darker. But not that important.
    In the nose immediately typical Ardbeg smoke with the classic, vanilla, sweet note. Reminds me a lot(!!) of the Ten, maybe with a more subtle smoky note. Behind it is a fresh sea breeze with a nice herbal note. Subtle light fruit, citrusy. All very harmonious and smooth. If you were expecting something unusual here, you will be disappointed. And when I read about "dark fruits and intense sherry" in other notes here, I really ask myself what else these colleagues were sniffing before they poured the smoke trails into the glass. Absolutely zero dark fruit!
    Very creamy on the tongue, starts well at first. The cutie is here. Plus some vanilla. Yes and then? Then you wait for the flavors to deepen and nothing happens. Everything remains very superficial, although really harmonious, I have to give him that. It also has no youthful note, metallic bitterness or whatever you like to call it. No not at all. A really tasty whisky. The American Oak did a good job here, delivering a very smooth whisky. But if you expect the intensity and spice of the Ten, no, not there.
    In the finish it becomes a bit smokier again. A great, malty, sweet note lingers for a long time. I like that. Maybe the Manzanilla barrel shows up here now.

    Conclusion: You get exactly what you buy here: a whisky that flatters the palate, which is not designed for whisky extremists, but is intended to serve the mass market and "semi-professional" whisky connoisseurs with its liter bottle in travel retail. And he does it excellently. BUT - no comparison to the other standard range from Ardbeg, which is not really suitable for the mass market, but appeals to a much more limited audience of maltheads.
    Again, it really isn't bad. I like it and would drink it anytime. But compared to the Ten etc. I wouldn't prefer it, you have to be honest.

  8. Choas scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    I like the smell and the taste (here especially the mineral-smoky component), but I find the finish takes getting used to. Reminds me of canned pineapple with something chemical. With more air in the bottle, it becomes pleasantly drinkable. Delicate smoke, malty, citrus and ash. Tastes good!
    • Nose
      86 86
      smoky, maritime, light acidity, citrus, caramelized light fruits, it becomes sweeter, the smoke is rather delicate and supportive, the sweetness increases strongly after tasting,
    • Taste
      87 87
      in the mouth it is a bit tart, I have spices, citrus notes, slight spiciness and mineral notes, then slightly gummy notes and the smoke is almost gone, slightly ashy,
    • Finish
      86 86
      in the finish remains the sour component, spices, slight bitterness,

  9. MaltsofIslay scored this whisky 88 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      87 87

  10. Petitcham scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Appropriate saltiness and refreshing feeling, not worse than expected, the texture is quite different, but backward compatible with ardbog

  11. Thoma scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  12. Marequiers48 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  13. Tuco1972 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  14. AlexsK161 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  15. robbert88 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    I am very hesitant to give this ardbeg an 87.
    But he just doesn't make it. An 86.5 would be ideal but that is not possible. So an 86 should do it. Which I think is too little actually.
    You got it…. I'm in a serious discussion with myself...

    He's better than the uigeadail. Better than the an oa.
    But no better than the corryvreckan or the 10.
    • Nose
      N: burnt lemon peel, ash, salty, iodine, wet rope, smoky, forest dew, hint of pepper
    • Taste
      P: salty, smoke, peat, iodine, wet ash, caramelized, old leather, little sweetness from the sherry but also tannins from the wood, citrus, light bitter, tobacco, licorice,
    • Finish
      F: medium long, bitter, oak wood, ash, iodine, lemon flesh, salted flesh, salty, dry, tobacco smoke,

  16. VEF206 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  17. AlphaCentauri scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Not an Ardbeg to be missed under any circumstances, but definitely a pleasant colleague! Unfortunately, I haven't had the 10 in my glass for too long for a direct comparison.
    Anyone who likes Ardbeg will surely like this bottling. He does not beat Uigedail and Corryvreckan. I also think the An Oa is a bit better. For 80€ you can't go wrong - perfectly acceptable drinking substance!
    On the secondary market, prices are currently well above €100. That's nonsense in my eyes. On the one hand, because it will be much more widely available in duty-free shops in the foreseeable future and, on the other hand, because it simply isn't worth it.
    • Nose
      86 86
      The drinking strength makes the malt restrained but not overly weak on the nose. The smoke is immediately present. No youthful sharpness. Some citrus, some iodine, some fresh pine needles and a little fruity sweetness from the sherry casks.
      Not overly complex, but pleasing with no off-notes.
    • Taste
      86 86
      The drinking strength also fits well here. I take my first sip lightly and relatively tame for an Ardbeg. The smoke is still clearly present. In addition, the typical Ardbeg citrus notes and ashes. Somewhat sweet from the sherry behind, but very restrained. Some iodine, as well as tannins and a slight bitterness, which reveals the rather young age.
    • Finish
      85 85
      Rather short with a minimal bitterness. The sweetness is first way. Ash, iodine, smoke and something lemony remains as well as a slight sharpness.

  18. crouly scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Really smoky and pleasant
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      87 87

  19. nuunan scored this whisky 99 points Newbie

    Good value.

  20. Макс scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      82 82

  21. hs305 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    [January 2023] I had a dram during the "All Killer No Filler" tasting at the Walhalla of Whisky in Regensburg. This is a modern Ardbeg of rather average quality only, so there is no justification for any higher price than the standard 10-years old edition from a drinker's perspective (imho).

  22. JoshNRW scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    A high-end tasting at Pit Krause in the Whisky Museum with my friend Hs305 - more legendary status is hardly possible... :-)

    Just brief notes on the whiskys.

    That was the nightcap whisky at the end.
    • Nose
      Dark fruit aromas and not as much smoke as the very current smoke bombs from Ardbeg. But also young wood.
    • Taste
      Sweet smoke and lots of sherry cask.
    • Finish
      Fully warm and slightly alcoholic for only 46 percent.

  23. minialkoff scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    21+21+20+20

  24. alex..w..fan scored this whisky 79 points Connoisseur

    21 19 19 20 79

    just a young smoky whisky, the nose is not bad, but then .. singed, bitter ... such a pleasure (((...

  25. Squinugie scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      84 84

  26. claymore84 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Tasted on 12-18-2022. 84-86

  27. rolabob scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

  28. aquataste scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      88 88
      Fresh with a breeze of the sea, peat smoke with iodine, a little soapy, lemon zest with a pinch of pepper, a hint of forest fruit with a slight dryness of the wine, sweet buttery tones, a bit of vanilla, damp salty sand, old damp wood and leather, ash in the background
    • Taste
      87 87
      Fairly fresh with a sea breeze, sweet peat smoke with iodine, lemon peel with a pinch of pepper, ash, damp salty sand, a little buttery, caramel, a little pinch of dried herbs, old damp leather, forest fruit jam
    • Finish
      87 87
      Long, peat smoke with iodine, ash, lemon peel with pepper, seas, salty sand, wine dryness at the very end

  29. gaboruso scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      83 83

  30. Georgiusss scored this whisky 91 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      91 91
    • Taste
      90 90
    • Finish
      92 92

  31. migratore scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  32. glenrob scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  33. dapoinbua scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  34. davidmarcos scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    The most gastronomic Ardbeg.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  35. DrBest scored this whisky 89 points Expert Junior

    Really good. Not a typical Ardbeg but the Manzanilla cask works really good here.

    Citrus, Light Smoke, Tobacco, Vanilla

  36. ThorstenH scored this whisky 79 points Connoisseur

    The sweetness on the nose is not my thing, but after that it gets a bit tart, which suits the bottling better. Pleasant smoke note. But it remains a younger Ardbeg.
    71-80 – Fine, like to drink by time
    • Nose
      75 75
    • Taste
      81 81
    • Finish
      82 82

  37. PsychoG3R scored this whisky 88 points Member Junior

    Price update for Nov 22 at London Heathrow Airport: 75GBP (approx. 86.50€)

  38. Izzino scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    I was really looking forward to this. Honestly speaking, at today's Ardbeg prices, throwing out a liter bottle of Travel Retail at the price of regular Speyside Whisky is a bit confusing and suspicious.
    On the nose, at the right moment, you can feel a soft, light smokiness connected with the aromas of the wine. This is also noticeable there in combination with vanilla, honey, light yellow fruits, also grapefruit. Later on I feel the smokiness starts to dominate the character more.
    It's such a cold nasty smoke in taste. Whisky is bitter to the point of ash. In the second sip, I can already recognize the sweetness, but in the context of the licked cold potato that I found in the extinguished cellar in the morning.
    So this won't be love at first sight.
    I had to pour a standard desi immediately after that and see for myself how excellent this pipe is. Actually, it was only here that I realized that the new Ardbeg does not have the character of a hospital, iodine, disinfection, citrus and freshness.
    So not much for me. This would probably be a great whisky for Penicillin, or a whisky sour.

  39. Killswitch scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  40. mr_braun scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  41. geriud scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  42. Artus scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    This Ardbeg is delicious. Sweetness and smoke complement each other very nicely here. The finish could be a bit stronger and longer. For ~£70 you can't go wrong (issue price), anything beyond that is just crazy (given the quality).
    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  43. Hemdl scored this whisky 88 points Connoisseur

    Anyone looking for a smoke monster or expecting a straight forward Islay Malt will certainly be disappointed here. But there is Uigeadail or Corryvreckan. The Smoketrails, on the other hand, is really lovely and should therefore be aimed more at the squad of whisky drinkers who like it a little softer. Personally, I like it quite well, a consistently successful whisky overall, which has its justification and which I could generally imagine in the core range. At around 67 pounds, not overly priced even for a NAS (as of 2022) and therefore definitely worth recommending if you like this type of Islay malt.
    • Nose
      Immediately very sweet and pleasing. In addition to light grapes, some vanilla and the classic Ardbeg citrus fruit. Cold smoke in the background, but initially rather reserved, before becoming more present after a few minutes in the glass. The Smoketrails looks very calm and a bit more playful than its brothers from the regular range.
    • Taste
      The impression from the nose continues here. The Smoketrails lies comparatively mildly over the tongue and shows a similar profile here as in the nose. The cold ash smoke is now a little more present, light oak in the background, which gives it an additional spice. From time to time one has the impression of discovering a youthful freshness that neither the sweetness of the barrels nor the smoke can gloss over.
    • Finish
      Rather short, characterized by a fruity sweetness that quickly evaporates and then strong and deep dark smoke. Cold ash, light citrus notes - here the unmistakable Ardbeg character.

  44. MichUng scored this whisky 89 points Member Senior

    Nose: citrus, warm campfire embers, cedar, vanilla

    Taste: surprisingly fresh, almost minty, ashy, with a drop of water it becomes sweeter, slightly sticky, aniseed, dry

    Finish: light cocoa, anise, maybe a bit of banana, dry

    The Manzanilla comes into its own on the nose and is a lot of fun with the typical Ardbeg taste.

  45. Whiskybayer scored this whisky 90 points Expert Junior

    Also £69 in Edinburgh

    If you like the Uigedail you will love the Smoketrails ????????

    More sherry influence than the Uigedail. Vanilla ice cream, nuts, a little milder in the mouth than the Uigedail because it has 46% and is incredibly delicate with a long, oily finish.
    Smoke is typical Ardbeg, campfire and cold fireplace.
    I would have said spontaneously that the Uigedail has a little more smoke...
    At £70 and a liter it's a buy recommendation.
    I also tried the 19, which falls well behind the Smoketrails without looking at the price

  46. netcorpse did not rate this whisky Member Senior

    Price tag 67GBP in Heathrow & Stansted Airport on Mid September 2022

Tastingtags

Add tasting tags by clicking the flavours you recognized in this whisky.

Whiskybase

Whiskybase is founded in 2007 with the goal to create the biggest resource of whisky information in the world. A community driven website built by and for whisky enthusiasts.  




Whiskybase B.V. 
Zwaanshals 530 
3035 KS Rotterdam 
The Netherlands 

KVK: 60207205
VAT: NL853809112B01

Copyright © 2023


Forgot your password?

Login