Ardbeg 10 - 46%

 

From the Ardbeg website:

Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all. Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008.

Non chill-filtered with a strength of 46% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Pale straw colour, forms a thin line which falls as thick, oily legs.

Nose: Vanilla, green apples and citrus fruits peek out from behind a blanket of sea spray and peat.

Palate: Sweet vanilla, green apples, honey and caramel at first, followed quickly by a torrent of robust peat smoke and a slowly developing peppery heat. With a few drops of water, coastal salt and lemon and lime citrus notes come through.

Finish: Caramel and black pepper linger as the phenolic peat smoke gradually becomes more dry and ashy, mingling with that coastal brine to evoke memories of bonfires on the beach.

Summary: It’s little wonder the Ardbeg 10 expression is so popular and regarded as a classic whisky. True to its roots on the South coast of Islay, this provides enough smoke and sea salt to keep even the most ardent peatheads happy. Great balance, plenty of complexity and currently at around the £40-45 mark, a great value whisky. 

Ardbeg produce some hugely impressive whiskies and their core range provides excellent value for money, which makes it such a shame that they currently feel the need to produce legions of ‘limited editions’ of varying quality at such exorbitant pricing.

If you would like more information on this whisky, or the Ardbeg distillery, follow the link to the company website.

Transparency: No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.