Ardbeg 10 Years Old Reviews

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Apr 22nd 2013

Color

OK

Nose

Coal tar

Body

Medium

Palate

Coal tar

Finish

Warm

Is Rowey the only one? For those of you that are not coal miners and/or have not used Pears coal tar soap - this drop is like drinking that same soap. Not to be disparaging but the perfume can be smelt from metres away. Ever tasted the smell of something?

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Mar 6th 2013

Color

Pale Gold

Nose

Smoke and peat obviously, some fruit (esp. lemon) lingering in the background, maybe a hint of rosemary too.

Body

I find this to be "just" medium bodied, but maybe it's because my other bottles at the moment include Quarter Cask, A'bunadh, and Lagavulin.

Palate

Smoky, briny, peppery, with some fruit (that lemon again), and lurking in the background some white wine too

Finish

Warming, starts strong, but fades more quickly and is a bit less assertive than some others, namely Laph Quarter Cask.

A well rounded smoky beast

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Jan 12th 2013

It is distilled barley single malt whisky. It has the best balance of the notorious peaty Islay malts. It's designer/aged brother Uigeadail is a nice extravagance, but the Ardbeg 10 is what they do best. It's all there, in your head.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Pick Dec 7th 2012

Color

Mexican Water (Water w/slight yellowish tint)

Nose

A little medicinal... not as smoky on the nose as some other Ardbegs. Earthy and happy with a little hint of candy. Maybe a hint of citrus... not orange maybe lemon?

Body

Thick and greasy... nice body. Full mouth feel.

Palate

Ok... there's the smoke. It wouldn't be Ardbeg without the smoke (Blasda's not Ardbeg in my opinion). It's smooth with a little bit of afterbite... maybe a hint of lemon here too. The pronounced quality is definitely the smoke. It's not Corryvreckan or Supernova, but it's smoky...

Finish

Long warm and smooth...

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Oct 14th 2012

Color

light yellow (no e150)

Nose

peat, smoke, barrel char, vanilla, sweet wood, mint

Body

light mouth feel

Palate

peat, smoke, underneath that is some lemon and lime, vanilla, bit of caramel, spearmint

Finish

mild salt, peat, some barrel char (like in some bourbons) and peppermint

if you like peaty whisky, this is a must try, much better than lagavulin and bowmore, bit better than caol ila (more vegetal) but i prefer the flavor profile of laphroaig a bit more than ardbeg

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Mr Darcy Oct 6th 2012

Color

Pale gold

Nose

Smoke,Peat,Iodine earthy sod.

Body

Full body

Palate

Smoke, Peat, oily rich salty textured

Finish

Long slow warm salty, thick lingering coating.

Wonderful reminder of fall leaf raking into smokey piles of burning leaves, wearing gloves and an old Plaid Penndleton overcoat.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Sep 4th 2012

Color

Pale straw

Nose

Blast of peat, creamy vanilla, dark chocolate, earthy, sea spray, more peat.

Body

Taken neat very tight. With water flavors open up. Buttery, creamy balanced by earthy tannins.

Palate

Smoke, medicinal, creamy barley sugar, brine, slight citrus.

Finish

Smoke returns, damp earth, lingering, less sweetness than arrival.

Highly recommend addition of water. Taken neat this is too tight and closed. With the right amount of water this is a peaty stunner.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Jul 18th 2012

Color

Quite pale but it doesn't matter.

Nose

Smells like scotch.

Palate

See comment.

Finish

Just lingeringly pleasant.

Beautiful, relaxing Islay flavor. Not overpowering and I prefer just a splash of water (pure, bottled reverse osmosis with some mineral added).

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Quisnic Apr 26th 2012

Color

pale blonde/ gold

Nose

Awasome... Smoke, peat and iodine.

Body

Full bodied.

Palate

Peaty with trace hints of Almonds, salt and peper.

Finish

Long and warm... a good blast of camp fire!

Nice example of a Islay Scotch. Fails only when compared to the mighty Laphroaig quarter Cask.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Weednwhisky Feb 17th 2012

Color

light haylike or really pale gold

Nose

complex, smokey, again liquorice-like

Body

full, awesome, amazing, thick and again full..

Palate

Peat, Iodine, Smoke, Bacon, Beef, what more do you want?

Finish

long - very long (at least 5-7 minutes stable) warm and complex, it even get's more complex as the smoke fades a little

Delicious whisky, real peaty and non chill filtered which I think is pretty great because it makes it more natural. I also like it that there's not so much caramel in this whisky. This is my second or third favorite Islay brand, I'm not sure whether I like it better than Coal Illa or not, this one has definitely more smoke to it but is slightly less complex because of it. I'd add a spoon of water to taste it better but it's not absolutely necessary

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Enrico Souve Jan 21st 2012

Color

Late Afternoon Sunlight

Nose

Peat-smoke bomb, underpinned by cherry candy, Key lime, viburnum, and ambient fresh salmon, cream, coal, iodine, salted pretzel

Body

Velvet oil, rich, thick and creamy; chewy like melted taffy

Palate

A roaring bonfire and crashing waves; hot straw on wet asphalt, coal ambers carried by sea spray, give way to iodine and fresh seafood, settling down to a hint of caramel covered popcorn.

Finish

Peat, coal, hot iodine, long, maybe forever...

Surf and turf in a glass. Not for the faint of heart, this smokin\' fireball explodes with a bitter-sweet, riotous punch that smacks you in the mouth with the heat of blazing fire, aspiring to the ethereal light of diminution, on the wings of flying fish.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Jan 13th 2012

Color

pale straw..

Nose

smoke and green olive

Body

good and thick

Palate

peat, peat peat.

Finish

pure smoke going on...

being young had a hard a hard time some whisky mix...been a long time i didnt drink any...and this is one i can easily drink and feel...the smoke! so im not a really big whisky fan..and now i've found a..taste i like in beers and i can handle!

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Harmus85 Dec 16th 2011

Color

Copper light

Nose

Not my favorite but much much smoke.

Body

My first Islay and its very very good and full.

Palate

Peat, smoke, and a bit fruity. But very good!

Finish

Long and a very nice taste. It stays about 12 hours. You think you've tasted all 8 - 12 yo, wiskey trie this one!!

Well, this one was my first Islay whisky and the best i've ever tasted. If you're a beginner whisky drinker try this one. You don't like Jack Danliels in the beginning of whisky drinking like I do. I'm now for the first time on Gentleman Jack, it's very disappointing. In the future i'm drinking Scottish wisky. Just learn drinking and not one glass. Just a full bottle.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Dec 4th 2011

Color

light amber

Nose

Heavy Smoke and heavy smoke... like being trapped in a 10 year old meat smoker.

Body

full bodied and thick

Palate

enveloped in smoke..

Finish

I was really excited about drinking the Ardbeg .. while many folks on here will love the smokey flavors and scent of this swill .. it did not suit my pallet, I much prefer the Peat, Cherry, and Charcoal taste of other blends. Wish I'd read the reviews on here first, but hey, now I know.

Unlike other Scotch, the Ardbeg 10 year contained a very narrow band of smokey flavors and a powerful smokey scent. Probably better as a blend than straight. I didn't like it much, prefer the peat or carbon taste. It was like drinking that liquid smoke at the Supermarket.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Oct 19th 2011

Color

Amber - 3 (very light, lighter than Kilchoman Winter 2010.

Nose

Peat, iodine, brine, ozone, seawater, and smoke. Hint of sweetness as well.

Body

Thick and bold. Utterly amazing. Nice legs (Angel's tears).

Palate

Very different from Laphroaig IMHO. This is very refined for such a young whisky. The 10 y.o. Lap will immediately blast you with peat, but with the Ardbeg 10, it is a much more sophisticated peat blast. The intensity comes in increments and then suddenly you are rushed with intense peat and smoke. A hint of sherry and vanilla can be felt in the background. Marvelous whisky indeed.

Finish

The finish stays with you, long after you've realized... What an excellent bottle.

This is a fantastic whisky. If it was slightly cheaper, it would have become my every day drammer. Absolutely marvelous. At 46% abv & non chill-filtered, it's remarkable how this whisky holds up. Don't let the light color fool you, this whisky is playing for keeps.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Beerzebub Jul 28th 2011

Color

Light - only a little darker than a typical white wine.

Nose

Hard candy, dark chocolate, lemon zest, peat smoke... sea air, fresh fish, some almondlike sherry, a hint of freshly cut grass... Extremely refreshing and appetizing. Mouthwatering, even. The elements work very well together, particularly the dark chocolate, freshly cut lemon rind, and peat smoke, which are the dominant three.

Body

Medium-full, silky smooth, very nice.

Palate

Sweet dark chocolate and lemon oil, with some other kinds of fruitiness going on (pear? white peach?), followed quickly by smoky peat which takes a few seconds to build to a satiating crescendo. Cohesive, balanced (the peat never quite crushes its partners), and very tasty indeed.

Finish

Lingering peat smoke and Del Monte Tropical Fruit Salad, with just a hint of nutty, oxidized sherry.

More than just a peat fix - fresh, vibrant, appetizing, this stuff uses its youth to advantage. So well crafted, and so enjoyable. Bottle code L10 344 11:23 6ML, so thanks to the handy guide to reading these codes on the Ardbeg Project website, this must have been bottled on December 10 (i.e. day 344 of the year), 2010.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Papa Whisky Apr 7th 2011

Color

Spool of copper wire

Nose

Flowers, Peat, Smoke, and Band Aides

Body

Thick and extremely viscous in the glass. Feels like liquid velvet in your mouth

Palate

Caramelized sugar and sherry sweetness but far from being cloy, Floral, Peat, Smoke, Wood, Smoked salmon and oysters, and Dark Chocolate. The high ABV is hidden within the flavor complexity of the whisky, nicely done.

Finish

Long lasting floral and sherry sweetness with a touch of peaty smoke. Beautiful finish. Warning, be careful with this one, it causes severe lip smacking in between sips.

After wrestling with this review, a super hero commercial gave me the answer. Right now in my little world of whisky, the Ardbeg 10 is my Superman. Therefor, the Uigeadail is my bizarro superman. It is the opposite of everything I love in the Ardbeg 10. Where the 10 has intense peat and smoke, the Uigeadail is mild. And where the 10 is light in sweetnees and floral, the Uigeadail is intense. although opposites, they are both equally amazing and delicious.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Sideburns Apr 6th 2011

Color

Light amber. Cloudy especially with a few drops of water.

Nose

Leather peat smoke. My favorite smell. Phenolic like a hospital smell. And finally fish scales. Do this: After finishing a glass don't rinse it. Just leave it for 30 minutes or so. Now smell the glass...... Fish scales!!

Body

Oily medium thick.

Palate

So it's like grilling a parrot fish (scales on) using mesquite wood in a hospital with open doors located on a bluff by the ocean. Ahhh, yes it just takes me there.

Finish

Long finish. The kind where you just can't help smacking your tongue against the roof of your mouth after each sip. Briny malty sweet.

So I've been nursing this bottle for the past 2 weeks. Just trying to make it last. Drinking others in between (Red Breast, Lagavulin 16, Caol Ila 12, Taliker 10, Abunadh, Glenlivet 12). Tonight 1/4 bottle left and I finished it! So sad. I miss it already. If I had not given some to Papa Whisky I would still have a little more. Damn it.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Rmolledo Mar 20th 2011

Color

light straw in color

Nose

Heavy campfire smoke and peat aroma. strong iodine. Enough to clear a room of non-islay fans. malt and spice. phenolics.

Body

light with a slight oily mouthfeel. rather dry.

Palate

lighter flavor than aroma suggests. dark chocolates, spicy peppery notes. vanilla, sea salt, and phenolics. Very well balanced. Slightly sweet towards the end.

Finish

long lasting spicy yet enjoyable finish.

My favorite Islay scotch so far. very well balanced and very interesting.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Eye-lah Guy Mar 12th 2011

Color

Extremely light in the glass, which may put off the unsuspecting…that’s a P.C. term for them! Of course, anyone who pours from this green bottle must sense how acute this experience is going to be…if you don’t, go back to your overpriced P. Diddy Vodka

Nose

Clean as sea spray, with hints of vanilla/iodine, but absolutely no clue as to the arresting storm that approaches...

Body

Lighter than many of it's Islay neighbors

Palate

On first pull the hospital is all over your palate to the point that you almost feel the stiff sheets; and while the coastal salt renders springier than many Islays, this makes the balance of grain malt and cask wood all the more incredible.

Finish

Oh, and The Smoke, The Mouthful of Peat, The Beast? Oh, He’s Here, and He emerges, rampaging with a vengeance, stomping, in your face, shaking your ass to it’s very core in the finish. Wanna go here again? You can’t help yourself. Naturally, you’ll deal with The Beast each time out, until you love Him. And, of course, you will and you do…

Numbingly complex--a multitude of moods live in the dram at different times, and of course, depending on your dinner; your mood; your DNA. I’m knocked on my ass so scarcely, and the handful of whisky’s that do it are a few Islay’s, some Kentucky’s, and the rare Skye or heavenly Highlander. This makes The Short List.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Winemaker Jan 12th 2011

Color

golden straw

Nose

Loads of iodine, earthy and slightly musty, but also smells of banana bread and cinnamon.

Body

Full bodied, lots of viscosity, very smooth.

Palate

Lots of cinnamon (Big Red Gum anyone?), oatmeal, very salty. The flavor profile is distinctive, much more than the peat and oak of some of the other Islays in the price range.

Finish

A long finish, very pleasant and consistent, but after a minute it goes bitter

Yes it is peaty, but there is quite a bit more to it than just that. IMHO far better than the other Islays in the same price range.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Smallfrenchman Jan 2nd 2011

Color

Golden, light honey

Nose

Heavy peat, iodine, salt air, seaside.

Body

Almost a bit numbing on the tongue with the quantity of iodine, but in such a pleasing way. If you don't like iodine, stay away from it.

Palate

Like playing rugby in a peat bog and getting flattened in the turf...In a good way. Salt and smoke balance out nicely.

Finish

Long long long finish. Warm. Sit back and relax. I may have shed a tear or two.

I tried this a long time ago and couldn't get past the first sip. That was then, and I recently noticed this on sale for a price I couldn't resist, and bought the bottle. "For the guests" I reasoned with myself. Even if I can't enjoy it, surely I'll look like a great host. What a surprise to discover that my tastes have greatly changed and that this has become one of my favorite drams. Worth the second chance.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Nov 30th 2010

Color

Pale Yellow

Nose

Smokey Goodness, my favorite is to leave the glass out over night. The smell in the morning is beautiful

Body

Light oil

Palate

Nice Smoke , Salty

Finish

Long finish , leaves me wanting the next sip

My favorite entry level dram, I dream about the nose on a regular basis

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Jul 9th 2010

Color

Pale yellow.

Nose

Burnt orange shrub.

Body

Yellow viscous fuel.

Palate

Orange, peat, salt.

Finish

A bit of afterburn.

A fine fine whisky.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by C2 May 17th 2010

Color

White wine, pale green tea

Nose

Peat, sweet citrus. Pan fry pineapple with pork. BBQ fish smoke. Iodine, pine tar, salt. Water adds more brine and citrus.

Body

Full and oily.

Palate

Peat attack. Licking wooden bench in the park during a rain. Fresh cut grass, earthy. Pepper, and something sweet.

Finish

Peat smoke, mild 2nd hand tobacco smoke, nuts (can't tell which one, just nutty), burnt wood/paper boxes, lemon peel? Long and dry after smoke vanishes

Felt like roasting marshmellow with peat, twigs, and coconut shell, with sea breeze blowing in your face. Chokingly smoky even for a smoker if you don't sip it slowly. Tasted older than ten year if you ask me.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Orrin May 6th 2010

Color

Vibrant amber.

Nose

Phenol with the edge of antitussive medicine, followed by a hint of smoke. Everything layered within the thick smell of humid marshlands just after a summer rain, earthy and heavy.

Body

Heavy. Thick body that remains omnipresent as the different flavours unfold.

Palate

Massive peat but tangy with medicine and smoked fish. Behind follow nuances of vanilla, metallic shades and a slight alcoholic burn.

Finish

The massive peat ceases, giving way to earthy flavours that quickly coalesce with phenol (medicine), iodine, resinous sweetness, and slight saltiness into a somewhat foul mix of stale water, rotten "things" and subtle sweetness that is topped off with the peat's bitter nots.

This malt has character, definitely, complex and rank. On the nose it might be enjoyable still for some but the way it finishes, in this foul taste, you really have to screw up your nose. I, too, cannot savour any smokiness here, just phenolic, stale, boggy flavours contrasted by a subtle but even rankier sweetness against the earthy background. And because its after taste is extremely resistant, the Lagavulin 16 Year Old is, like an emetic, urging you towards nausea if you don't stop! Thus the character is there but the balance is really bad (not to say odious). In jest: if you like bad things, you'll love this one!

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Eyelah Mar 2nd 2010

Color

pale honey

Nose

peaty, grassy, smoky, alcohol, iodines

Body

oily, medium bodied

Palate

iodine, sea breeze, brine, peat smoke

Finish

long and smooth. tingly. a real pleasure.

First full size bottle I ever bought, and a damn fine purchase. Peat, iodine, smoke...and a long smooth finish. Not to mention the affordable price tag.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Nov 14th 2009

Color

Pale Straw

Nose

Peat, mid salt

Body

Full, oily

Palate

The moderate peat blast gives way for the sweet grain/citrus to come through.

Finish

Peat subsides to a little bit of salt and carries into a long, pleasant taste of fresh seaweed.

Probably one of the best Islay values--and the best Ardbeg value--in my opinion. Very good scotch and it doesn't make a huge dent in your wallet.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by ColoradoDram Sep 9th 2009

Color

Light gold, chardonay.

Nose

Gentle citrus, mesquite grill. Water releases nice floral with stronger citrus.

Body

Pretty thick and oily.

Palate

Tingly, prickly peat and smoke. Some bitter salty.

Finish

Deep, warm burn. Finish is better neat - H2O introduces a more bitter unwarranted attack. Then comes the dry...

On par with the Laphroaig 10 on many fronts - bitter, warm, oily, smokey. This has a bit more attack with or without water. I suggest neat with a lot of aeration.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous Jun 22nd 2009

Color

Clear light straw

Nose

Light smoke almost matched by alcohol.

Body

Thicker end of medium. Sliky.

Palate

Sipped this gives a wondrous mellow wave of smokey peat. This makes me think of proper oak smoked salmon. A larger slip opens the taste to the smoke of burning embers of wood. A cooling leaves a slight medicinal tint to the peaty taste. The larger the sip the more brutal the impact of the alcohol. Overall a balanced taste with a slight sweetness initially quickly before balancing out nicely.

Finish

Warming and the flavours of smokey peat linger. The mouth dries over time giving a drier taste. Transitions to an oily taste/texture towards the very end. The aroma lingers longer than the actual taste.

If I was to compare this as a red wine - between Cheval Blanc and supermarket plonk this would come in at about £25/bottle. A single dimensional taste rather than presenting a layered palette of taste however a good clarity of that taste delivered in silk if tasted by sipping.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous May 24th 2009

Color

Pale straw

Nose

Very smoky, leather, ink, salt

Body

Full, oily

Palate

Overwhelming: a small splash of water releases full flavour: heavy peat, brany, even salt, dry smoke, some herbs

Finish

Lingering, salt and dry, complex

A real killer, this one. In my opinion water is a necessity. Remarkably dry and salt and therefore even more powerful than the Laphroaig 10jr or the Talisker 10jr.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Rowey May 24th 2009

Color

Very pale straw

Nose

Smoke, medicinal iodine, charred wood and coal tar.

Body

Full bodied.

Palate

Powerful smoke and peat, suggestions of sweetness and wet charred wood.

Finish

Long and warm with peat smoke and wood.

Very quickly becoming my favourite 'entry level' Islay malt: it's less medicinal than Lagavulin, more smokey than Laphroaig and wilder than Bowmore.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Anonymous May 9th 2009

Color

Pale straw

Nose

Nose is sweet and earthy. Smells like a peat bog on a cool but very humid summer night, with some trees on fire.

Body

Medium, a little oily. Not as thick as other ten year olds.

Palate

This whisky has a strong alcohol flavor that is truly numbing on the tongue and lips. Despite this, strong smoky peat flavor comes through. It also tastes like fire. This whisky burns with the fire of a thousand suns. The flavor is brutish and surprising - kind of a slap in the face. Tastes like medicine, too, as a result of these characteristics.

Finish

Intense and long. Breathe out through your nose and there is a distinct burn and tingle that raises the hair on the back of your neck. Kinda feels like your head is full of fire, but it's not burning you. After this, a sweetness that is exactly like the smell of old musty wood furniture can be enjoyed for several minutes.

If you want to get into Islay, don't start with this. I've had Laphroaig's 10, 15, and Quarter Cask (Laphroaig 10 is my favorite whisky so far). The character of Ardbeg 10 is not elegant, complex, and rich like Laphroaig 10, but is rather belligerent, reckless, and hyperactive. Comparing these two whiskies is kind of like comparing Athens and Sparta. This whisky, while very enjoyable, is not quite my cup of tea. However, if you want a whisky that spits in your face and insults your character while screaming obscenities in your ear, Ardbeg 10 is for you.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Frombeyond Nov 25th 2008

Color

light

Nose

tarry, some smoke and medicinal smells. kinda tight

Body

big boy

Palate

A punch in the face. Intially sweet, but then dry and smokey

Finish

dry and smokey

A powerful whiskey that's kinda white wine like and elegant, but with the kick of a nice bourbon.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Prosper Aug 1st 2008

Color

Light straw

Nose

smoke, oak, pepper, spice. Surprisingly little phenol

Body

full bodied, wet

Palate

mellow smoke, wood, cereal, black pepper, dried fruit

Finish

warm, zingy finish. dried fruit, notes of cloves and spice. Nice balance of smoke, tannins and sweetness.

an instant classic. Buy this.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by K2San Jun 9th 2008

Color

Straw Gold

Nose

Peat and a hinty of fruit

Body

Full bodied; oily

Palate

Peat surrounds your thongue. Smoke, a bit of salt, burned wood

Finish

Ram bam thank you mam. A long intense warm peat that puts a smile on your face.

If you like peat : this is the one to try. One of my favouriotes. Always present on my cabinet

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Ben L. Dec 19th 2007

Color

Pale golden

Nose

A small fire at a naked wood furniture factory. Just a touch of varnish.

Body

As a tiny tingle grows to pinpricks midtongue, the sinuses fill with mellow smoke. Goes down smooth and sure like a Southern belle.

Palate

Peat to spare and a nice tart subplot.

Finish

The warm taste, slight at first, grows to its potential.

A nip of the bog dew in your bivouac just as the fire goes out and the morning fog rolls in. Either that or brilliant merchandising from the Liquid Smoke people.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Jim Ruddy Nov 8th 2007

Color

Straw

Nose

Bonfire, Peat, slightly fruity

Body

Full bodied nicely oily

Palate

Peat, Smoke, Salt, Wet Grass

Finish

Long and peaty. Second hand smoke.

A truly great and approachable Islay. Smoke and peat is not overpowering, but allows more subtle flavours to sneak through.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Colin Mar 23rd 2007

Color

Pale Gold

Nose

Peat, Caramel, Fresh fruit, Vanilla

Body

First light, then quickly develops to a full body. Wet.

Palate

First nothing. Then Peat, Oak, Bitter notes, and smoke.

Finish

Lovely peat essence, Warming, Enveloping

A beautifully balanced Islay with lovely structure and complexity. Water it for more smoke, but you'll sacrifice the intensity of the finish in doing so. I can't decide which way i like it better. Definitely a whisky worth keeping on hand.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Dramiel McHinson Feb 27th 2007

Color

Pale Gold

Nose

Tobacco smoke and the medicinal phenols of peat, some leather, faint hint of honey roasted almonds.

Body

Medium to full body, mouth warming.

Palate

Smokey-sweet taste of peat smoked malt slips under a peppery spice and charred oak taste. I get a taste of campfire towards the end.

Finish

Long lingering spicy notes, a light dry bitter charred oak taste mingles with the smoke.

Right in there with Talisker, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. If you like smokey-peaty you'll love this Ardbeg.

Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Review by Mdavis Feb 10th 2007

Color

Light straw

Nose

Smoke, peat, some citrus peeks through with a hint of sweetness behind the smoke, but dry overall.

Body

Peat and smoke, slightly oily.

Palate

Some sweetness shows through the smoke. Citrus?

Finish

The sweetness fades to a drier finish and full body. Long, dry finish as the smoke leaves.

This is a big Islay, non-chill filtered. Very fine value and one of Ardbeg's best.