For peat-lovers, Ardbeg 10yo is probably the highest-quality 'entry-level' single malt on the market, and the distillery many Islay connoisseurs would choose as their favourite. A whirlwind of peat and complex malty flavours, this is an exuberant, in-your-face whisky to be cherished. Whisky Bible Awards 2012: Best Single Malt Scotch of the Year, 10 Years and Under Web-Exclusive Price!
£35.25
(£29.38 ex. VAT)
More Details:
CountryScotlandRegionIslayBottlerDistillery BottlingAge10 Year OldChill FilteredNo
N: Sweet peat, coal, Caramac bars, a faint floral soapy note, pepper and chilli. You know you're in for a treat.
P: Very soft, mellow entry, then the spices and peat come through in a big way. Powerful, but with a balancing sweetness. Great length.
F: Long and warming, with the smoke and pepper lasting longest.
Comment: It's easy to see why this is so popular - spicy, sweet, and above all smoky. A great dram, well-balanced and with a lot going on.
Producer's Tasting Notes
Nose: Exceptional balance and depth. At full strength, the aroma is a seductive mix of toffee and chocolate sweetness, cinnamon spice and medicinal phenols. Fresh citrus and floral notes of white wine are evident as are melon, pear drops, general creaminess, fresh phenolic aroma of seaspray (iodine) and smoked fish. Hickory and coffee emerge later as the most volatile top notes fade.
Taste: An initial moderate and clean sweetness is rapidly followed by a mouthful of deep peat notes, with tobacco smoke and strong espresso coffee, which then gives way to treacle sweetness and liquorice. The mouthfeel is firstly lightly spiced (astringent), then chewing, mouthwatering, full and finally dry.
Finish: Long and smoky. A smoky sweetness is left on the palate, with a crushed peat and sweet malted cereal character.
Customer Reviews:
I agree with the previous anonymous review!
- anonymous, 9 days ago
Nose: TCP, burnt rubber, burning coal dust... Palate: it burns like hell... Finish: lingering smell of embers for the next 12 hours or so...
I will not purchase it again.
- anonymous, 19th January
Goes over in a wave of lightly sweet golden spicy peatiness, absolutely stunning dram. Truly Islay's finest
- GrahamL, 2nd January
A fabulous whisky all around. If you have mastered the taste then welcome to the king of the peated.
- Rod, 7th Dec '11
splendid single malt..
- anonymous, 1st Nov '11
Of course you gotta like peated whisky, which I do. This is in my opinion a surprisingly complex whisky for a 10year old. But don't water this one down, it (oddly) takes away the joy of the peatyness/complexity. A whisky I'll keep in stock
- anonymous, 17th Oct '11
Nothing balanced or light about this beast, gives a strong peat hit when you first swallow it and a massive dose of salt. Takes ages for the salty finish to release its grip with only a hint of sweetness coming in minutes later - or that could be my mouth trying to clear out the salt. This is good if you like a challenge.. Bring it on Ardbeg!!
- anonymous, 21st Jul '11
The nose sets things off well, sweet, smoky. Initial flavour is peaty, rich and creamy but it's also very peppery and bitter. The finish is long; the smoke fades fast but the bitter peppery taste does not and for me dominates the taste overall. I found the Laphroaig 10 smoother and better balanced with a much richer flavour.
- James D., 19th Jul '11
The nose sets things off well, sweet
- James D., 18th Jul '11
Been looking forward to trying this.. The nose sets things off well, sweet
- James D., 18th Jul '11
A beautifully balanced, lightly peated, spicy little number with a spicy, fruity nose. The taste is subtle, slightly peaty, ever so gently spiced, and a gentle smokey finish. As a non-peat head this, and Caol Isla 12 year old, is an absolute revelation ! LOVE IT TO BITS !
- Craig Bryant, 5th Jun '11
A great whisky, Gets better the further down the bottle you get. For those that dont like it, give if plenty of time to open up and let it get to room temerature, if it is too cold you wont get the sweet creamy counter to the strong peat.
- Olaf Pain, 31st May '11
Fantastic enjoyed every single drop :)
- bigjord, 26th May '11
First sip found me standing next to my long gone beloved granny stoking a burning pile of wood and grass. Next sip found me in a burning house with intense smoke swirling round my head. This is one hard punching whisky. Long finish with raw dark chocolate as a finale. Brilliant dram.
- Josh Lai, 3rd May '11
Good medicine!! Afternoon drink though.
- Salola, 26th Apr '11
Like entering an operating room on initial opening, but seems to lose a bit of the overpowering antiseptic over several days shelf time. If you're new to Islay malts, Ardbeg 10 is a tough one to start with. Give it a chance and it becomes a decent smoky dram (though not as smoky as Laphroaig 10) with a tad of sweetness and sea air. Still though, feels light overall..needs bottom end. For that try Uigeadail.
- AJ Smith, 4th Feb '11
The best "entry -level" single malt.Silky peaty really enjoyable.With Lagavulin 16 yo and Laphroaig QS my favourites.But Ardbeg a little bit ahead...
- Alexandros G., 9th Jan '11
@bettieZ: It's better than the Laphroaig 10 Year (not the 10 Year CS). Haven't compared it to the Lagavulin yet.
- rwbenjey, 6th Jan '11
Out of all the various whiskies I've had, this one is still my favorite. Hopefully it doesn't go anywhere : )
- anonymous, 6th Jan '11
Simply stunning, the smoke, the peat, the sea spray.
