Ardbeg Drum Scotch Whisky
Ardbeg Drum Scotch Whisky is a 46% ABV (92 proof) Islay single malt released for Ardbeg Day 2019 — the distillery's first-ever rum cask finish. Matured in ex-bourbon casks, then reracked into ex-rum casks from the Americas, it layers Caribbean tropical character over Ardbeg's famously intense peat: fragrant pine resin and woodsmoke dancing with ripe banana and pineapple, per distillery manager Mickey Heads, before strutting into a long, smoky finish. Bottled without chill filtration as a one-time limited release. Order it online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 46% (92 proof), non-chill-filtered
- Size: 750mL
- Age: NAS — ex-bourbon maturation, finished in ex-rum casks from the Americas
- Release: Ardbeg Day 2019 limited edition — one-time run, retired from the active lineup
- Origin: Ardbeg Distillery, Port Ellen, Islay, Scotland (est. 1815)
Let the Rumbustious Revelry Begin
Each Ardbeg Day brings a new experiment; Drum brought the Caribbean to Islay. It was a genuine first for the distillery — never before had Ardbeg finished in rum wood — and the marriage works: the rum casks coax out sun-ripened fruit tones rarely found in the core range while the peat stays front and center. A snapshot of Ardbeg's experimental streak and a natural anchor for any serious peated-whisky collection. Browse Ardbeg expressions or explore peated scotch whiskies.
Tasting Notes
Nose: pine resin, woodsmoke, ripe banana, pineapple, lavender. Palate: smoke, tar and creosote into clove, liquorice, ginger, dark chocolate and smoked vanilla. Finish: intense smoke, roasted coffee liqueur, sweet spices.
How to Enjoy
Neat — a higher-proof Committee version exists, but this 46% general release is the balanced pour. Let it open in the glass for the tropical notes to bloom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Ardbeg Drum unique? It's the first Ardbeg ever finished in rum casks — a one-time 2019 experiment.
What is the ABV? 46% ABV, non-chill-filtered.
Is it still available? It was a single limited run, long retired — remaining bottles are collector's items.
Islay peat meets Caribbean rum — order Ardbeg Drum online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.