Ardbeg 10 Year Old

Description

Ardbeg 10 Year Old Bottling Note

From the rugged south coast of Islay comes a single malt that has earned global recognition as a definitive expression of peated whisky: Ardbeg 10 Year Old. This iconic dram is the flagship bottling from the Ardbeg Distillery, established in 1815, which has survived a turbulent history of closures and revivals to emerge as a powerhouse of intensely smoky, yet perfectly balanced Scotch.

Ardbeg’s production ethos centres around using heavily peated malt, sourced from the Port Ellen maltings, to achieve a phenol level of approximately 50 parts per million. Crucially, the spirit is non-chill filtered and bottled at 46% ABV, preserving the oils and maximum flavour integrity that contribute to its rich mouthfeel and depth. Maturation takes place predominantly in ex-Bourbon barrels, which lend a balancing sweetness to the spirit’s bold, phenolic character.

The resulting whisky is renowned for a character the distillery often calls the “Peaty Paradox,” where immense smoky intensity meets a surprising sweetness. On the nose, Ardbeg 10 Year Old presents a burst of intense smoky fruit, intertwining zesty lemon and lime with waxy dark chocolate, cut through by menthol and black pepper. The palate is an explosion of crackling peat that effervesces with tangy citrus juice and sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee. This develops into a wave of brine and smooth buttermilk, eventually yielding to a mouthful of warm creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. The finish is remarkably long and smoky, marked by lingering notes of tarry espresso, aniseed, and toasted almonds. This is a powerful, yet nuanced, Islay single malt.

Ardbeg 10 Year Old Tasting Note

Nose: The initial impression is a billow of sea-salt smoke and damp driftwood. This potent layer of soot carries an unexpected maritime freshness, featuring hints of briny oyster shell and a sharp lemon zest. Deeper notes include sweet vanilla pastry and a subtle medicinal touch of iodine and dark liquorice root.

Palate: The texture is oily and mouth-coating, immediately delivering a powerful surge of bonfire ash and black pepper. This earthy peat is balanced by a rich, buttery malt core and a complex sweetness. Look for roasted coffee beans, a hint of dark chocolate, and a cutting lemon curd tartness. The 46% ABV ensures a commanding, perfectly integrated spice.

Finish: The finish is long and warming. The heavy smoke retreats and morphs into a dry, lingering ash, leaving behind the sensation of charred oak. A final, fleeting whisper of cinnamon spice remains, carried by a powerful wave of persistent saline minerality.

Overall: This is an essential benchmark Islay single malt, perfectly illustrating the distillery’s unique ability to marry immense peat power with clean complexity. It is an assertive and unflinching dram that achieves its celebrated “perfect balance” by allowing its Bourbon-cask-aged character to shine through the smoke.