Released in 2022 as the first expression in the Ardbeg Smoketrails travel retail series, a range designed to explore how different casks impact the signature Ardbeg whisky style. Ardbeg Smoketrails Manzanilla Edition combines malt whisky matured in Ardbeg American oak casks, and Manzanilla sherry casks from Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain. Non-chillfiltered and bottled at 46%. (Bottle size 1 litre)

Nose: Deep, pungent flavours take to the air, a curious combination of tar, saddle soap, pine resin and Brazil nuts. A very aromatic whisky, with lovely herbal notes and a hint of moist peat bog, while storm-churned sea spray soars overhead. With water, some chocolatey notes appear, along with a touch of engine oil.

Palate: A slightly drying mouthfeel, followed by deep, pungent flavours that hurtle across the palate: tar, soot, dark chocolate and a very distinctive nuttiness, like Brazil nuts or hazelnut.

Finish: Plumes of fennel and pine billow up, leaving a long, lingering trail of carbolic soap, aniseed and leather.