Ardbeg 10 Year

A little background

Ardbeg 10 year Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the distillery’s flagship whisky. It comes from the Islay region, where the moss known as “peat” is used in the creation of the whisky to give it a smoky, sweet sensation. This bottle can be found worldwide, and is acclaimed to be the peatiest, smokiest and most complex scotch in the world (which is, of course, subjective). The MSRP price on Ardbeg 10 year is between $45-60.

(Tasted neat from a Halo Glass)

Color

Very light yellow, nearly clear

Nose

Peat, campfire smoke, and a seaside brininess are at the forefront of the nose. This brininess is something that is not found in something like Bourbon at all, and is found almost uniquely in Islay whisky. Light vanilla notes play in the background, almost going unnoticed. A tiny bit of lime is present as well.

Palate

Peat is the predominant flavor, with a body consistency like a creamy butter. Slight lemon notes come into play on the sides of the palate, balanced out by a salty brininess. Slight hints of vanilla are present as well.

Finish

Burnt charcoal and peat dominate the finish, making it medium-long and coating mainly the mid and side palate.

In conclusion

I Ardbeg 10 Year to be a really good flagship Islay whisky, especially for the price and availability. I would drink this both neat, as well as use it in cocktails. Don’t let the color deceive you, it is a lot more complex than it lets on. Ardbeg really set a high standard with this as their flagship Single Malt!