Ardbeg Trudernish 15 Years Old

There is a new permanent addition to the Ardbeg core range: the Ardbeg Trudernish.

Ardbeg Trudernish is the distillery’s first permanent 15-year-old single malt and promises a creamier, more composed take on Ardbeg’s unmistakably smoky character thanks to a bourbon cask-led profile. Positioned between Uigeadail and Corryvreckan, it connects back to Ardbeg 10 with a very accessible ABV of 48.8% while offering greater age, weight and personality. Creating an impact even before its arrival, Trudernish has already received a Double Gold award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026.

Trudernish takes its name from an ancient settlement near Ardbeg, where local legend tells of a hidden well whose waters never freeze. Another claims that anybody who takes home a pebble from nearby Claggain Bay will be destined to return to Islay. Found on the south-east of Islay, Trudernish is up the coast from the Ardbeg Distillery and is part of a wider area known as Islay’s so-called 'Enchanted Cape' – an area rich in myth and legend.

The inspiration for Trudernish can be traced back to Airigh Nam Beist, one of the cult Ardbeg releases of the modern era. Airigh Nam Beist was distilled in 1990, during a period when production at Ardbeg was extremely limited, before Glenmorangie acquired the distillery in 1997. Matured in bourbon casks, it was released in three successive bottlings between 2006 and 2008, growing from 16 to 18 years old as the series progressed. However, very little old stock was available from the years before the takeover, so Airigh Nam Beist was always scarce and its rich, smooth and vanilla-led character helped turn it into a cult bottling.

Directly recreating the whisky was impossible, however as the 1990s stock was effectively gone. Turning to Ardbeg’s archive instead, Gillian Macdonald, Master Blender and Head of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie (and Ardbeg), went through old laboratory samples and referenced a recipe logged in the stock system to reconstruct a new whisky rooted in how Airigh Nam Beist had been assembled. This influenced the pre-dominance of bourbon casks, including a high proportion of first-fill wood supported by tiny quantities of oloroso sherry and new charred oak. It’s not a replica of Airigh Nam Beist, but more of a homage to its flavour and place within the range.

Nose

A soft wave of earthy peat and gentle woodsmoke is wrapped in rich vanilla cream, evoking the scent of melted vanilla ice cream with caramel fudge sauce. Sweetness blends with floral notes and subtle hints of pine resin and heather honey. Orchard fruits like green apple and pear add freshness, while a hint of cracked black pepper and dried herbs lend complexity. A splash of water reveals ripe melon, kiwi, and soft berry notes layered over fragrant vanilla and heather-sweet peat.

Palate

Creamy and full-bodied, with bold Ardbeg peat merging into a smooth wave of sweet vanilla cream. Classic notes of soft pine, woodsmoke and damp forest floor lead into dark liquorice, chocolate lime, and a touch of herbal mint. More soft orchard fruits and floral sweetness are paired with nuts wrapped into milk chocolate. The texture is silky, with the vanilla running like a thread through each layer.

Finish

Long and soothing, with peat embers, vanilla pod and toasted nuts lead into a long and smoky finish.