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Ardbeg Drum

malty spicy
3.1
(2)€176Scotland, Islay, Single Malt

Flavours

Whisky character

Fresh
Warm
Mild
Full
Smooth
Spicy

Taste mentions

Facts

Ardbeg has always done things its own way, and Drum is proof. The distillery rarely bothers with cask finishes. Yet here it took peated spirit and rested it in barrels that once held rum from the Americas. The result is a tug-of-war on the tongue. Savoury smoke leans against bright tropical sweetness, with banana and pineapple drifting through warm spice. There is brine, a touch of nutmeg, and a long medicinal smoulder underneath. Built for Ardbeg Day, it is bold and a little playful. Pour it neat and let the two sides argue. You win either way.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Ardbeg

Ardbeg distillery is located on the southern coast of the Isle of Islay, Scotland. It was founded in 1815 and has been producing some of the world's most highly regarded Islay single malt whiskies ever since. Ardbeg uses traditional malted barley, Scottish water, and peat to produce its signature smoky and peaty flavors. The distillery uses malted barley that is heavily peated to around 55 parts per million (ppm) phenols, which gives its whiskies a distinct and powerful flavor. Interesting fact: In 2011, Ardbeg sent vials of its whisky to the International Space Station to study the effects of microgravity

4.2Average rating

137Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Ardbeg Drum

Ardbeg Drum is a single malt Scotch whisky from Ardbeg. The famous distillery on the windswept south coast of Islay in Scotland. It is unusual for the maker, because Ardbeg rarely uses cask finishing at all. This bottling first matured in bourbon casks. It was then finished in barrels that once held rum from the Americas, giving the spirit a sweeter, fruitier edge. That finish is the whole point of Ardbeg Drum. The rum casks pull tropical fruit out of the smoke. You get banana and pineapple up front, then a wave of spice. Nutmeg and black pepper warm the mid-palate. Underneath it all sits the savoury, medicinal smoke that makes Islay whisky so easy to recognise. Few peated drams play this sweet-and-smoky game so well. Drum was built for Ardbeg Day, the annual festival bottling tied to the Feis Ile celebrations on Islay. Members of the Ardbeg Committee got an early version before the wider release. That heritage matters here. Ardbeg has weathered closures and revivals over its long life, yet it keeps turning out spirit with real character. Drum is a clear example of that mischievous streak. In the glass this single malt is layered and lively. Coconut and citrus brighten the nose, with a salty coastal lift behind them. The palate runs sweet then smoky, oak and brine trading places. The finish is long, peppery and faintly medicinal. It is a whisky that rewards slow sipping and a little patience. Drink Ardbeg Drum neat, in a decent glass, with no rush. The smoke settles as it opens, letting the fruit and spice come forward. It suits anyone who loves Islay smoke but wants something a touch playful. Bold, balanced and distinctly Ardbeg, this is a single malt worth seeking out.