Interesting fact… Ardbeg 10 Year Old whisky spells its name whisky as it originates in Scotland. Had it been produced in America its name would be Ardbeg 10 Year Old whiskey, instead of whisky.
Nose: A ridge of vanilla leads to mountain of peat capped with citrus fruits and circled by clouds of sea spray.
Palate: Sweet vanilla counterbalanced with lemon and lime followed by that surging Ardbeg smoke that we all know and love.
Finish: Long and glorious; sea salted caramel and beach bonfire smoke.
Overall: Precise balance, big smoke and non-chill filtered. This is why this is such a famous dram.
The finish is absolutely amazing, leaving a subtle, cauchuck like film of a dark chocoalate taste. I normally prefer sweet sherried malts, but I made an - well justified! - exemption for that tipple.
Yes it may be 'only 10 yo' but make no mistake ths is a Giant of a whisky! It is of course bottlings from the distillations of the previous owners but under the new regime it is good to see no compromise on chill-filtering. Interesting to compare this to the new Renaissance expression!
Don't get me wrong, a fine whisky indeed. I think when comparing to Islay's Laphroaig ten is the better value. Again, a fine tasting whisky, I have a hard time justifying the extra money when comparing to the Laphroaig.
nothing more to add than sit back relax and enjoy
Ardbeg is not for everyone!This is the Man's Single Malt!
This is my first bottle from Ardbeg. I loved it and look forward to my next bottle. A bit medicinal at times but overall a good choice.
If you'd like it slightly less sweet with a bit more balance and less Iodine (but just slightly less) this is the Dram for you. Not a fan of the Islay single malts but if you like them peaty with a hint of smoke this one is for you.
� for � simply THE BEST
thgere is no going back on this one pound for pound it is simply the best.
Fantastic Islay single malt! Smokey nose, smooth peaty notes, malty sweetness and a finish that is hard to find elsewhere. The balance is perfect and the complexity from the extra ABV is wonderful. I highly recommend it.
I truly enjoy this scotch. Peat taste, smokey and smooth taste and is great with many cigars
Oh so nice I had to have another. Lovely, not to peaty and the smokeyness stayed with me for ages after I had whished it round my mouth.
big smoke, a lovely creamy sweetness and some lovely coffee like bitterness on the end. A Lovely entry level Ardbeg malt ( that isn't really a entry level malt at all ;] )
Typically I'm not an Islay drinker and have very particular tastes when it comes to this region. I'm more of a Speyside or Highlands drinker. However, for me, Ardbeg makes a fine scotch. Very mild peat taste, flavorful smoke with a surprisingly nice medicinal flavor just before a smooth sweet finish. Definitely not bad.
Am a fan of Islay drams.. just got a bottle of this and i am a believer! It holds an amazing balance between lagavulin and a bowmore or coal ila.. where smoke, sweetness and iodine saltiness are in balance.. it seems to do what the other try to.. really impressed.
I like my Islay's and this might just become my go to bottle. I enjoy it more than the Laphroaig. I'm not sure I prefer it over Bowmore's Darkest, but it's price and local availability will have me reaching for it first.
The Uigeadail is, for me, the king of the Ardbeg castle, but for less than forty quid there is no better whisky than the "house" ten year old. No whisky drinker's collection should be without this whisky.
I have only recently started to drink and enjoy 'peaty' whiskies and Ardbeg knocks all the others I have tried into a cocked hat. By adding a teaspoon of water releases a wonderfully fragrant mix of vanilla, lemons, sea air, oak, open fires and our good friend peat. compared to other peated whiskies ardbeg 10 has a wonderfully warming slow surge of smokiness. Beautiful!
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The "slightly hint" of iodine is very overwhelming and leaves a horrible aftertaste. Just think about what iodine smells like and it tastes just as it smells.
If we were to compare Islay whiskies, I'd put this above its Laphroaig counterpart, but the Lagavulin 16 is a cut above. In an ideal world the Ardbeg would be 5-10 pounds cheaper, but it's still worth the money.
Don't be fooled, this little beauty has a lot going for it despite its tender 10 yr age. Lots of complex vanilla, a lovely sweet smoke and grilled oranges make this one of my favourites. Who can argue for £35 for a whisky of such quality, an absolute bargain!
I am primarily a Speyside/Highlands Scotch drinker but I thought I would give this one a try to see the difference. I tried it pure at first with no dillution and could hardly stand the medicinal taste since it lingered for such a long time. It tatsted like I was sucking on a bandaid or a roll of gauze. I tried it again today with some water and the tastes were different and I welcomed the change. Nice for something different, but I think overall I'll still end up sticking with my Macallan, Glenfarclas, and Glendronach.
Great quality malt for the price. Much more on offer than other Islays in this price range. Lovely sweet vanilla cutting through the smoke with grilled orange
This has to be the best islay whiskey of all and there are some good ones. Just the tool for a cold winter's night.
What a horrible taste and awful after taste! Most disgusting whiskey I have ever tasted. Poured it down the sink.
I wanted to see what all the fuss was about, so I got a sample of this, my taste notes below: Nose: Medicinal (smells like anti-sceptic cream! Iodine??) Palate: Smoky peat, salty and iodine flavours prevail. Sweet Vanilla and citrus tang. Finish: Smoky peat and caramel and salt spray. Smoke flavour lasts a long time after the rest. After about half a shot with water, left with a mouth that feels and tastes like an ashtray!!!
I love peaty whiskey and this comes a very close second to my fave laphroaig. Superb
Not a connoisseur of Single Malt Whisky's (but I know what I like) I really enjoyed this Birthday gift from my daughter in Australia,I have read all the previous reviews and my amateurish remarks gleaned from those are,loved the sweet vanilla taste on first taste then the smoky,peaty flavour hit me,which was really to my palate and the after taste which lasted lovingly was much to be admired,I hung on for as long as I could before my second sip just to make the tot last longer,where the iodine remarks come from I can't fathom,this beauty is far from medicinal and I for one will be very sad when this bottle is finished (I won't be sharing it with anyone,believe me) and although I don't usually pay out this sort of price on a single malt,I would certainly be tempted to treat myself.Truly Beautiful,thank you Joanne(my daughter) and Ardbeg.
Really lacks the peaty smoke of its Islay brothers. Very disappointing in that respect, however it is nonetheless a highly drinkable, easy going dram. I wouldn't buy again, instead favouring Laphroig or Lagavulin.
"Ardbeg 10" was my first delve into the Ardbeg range, and I was not dissapointed. I had previously only found one other peaty malt and stuck to it (my being a creature of habit: I stick to what I like and don't change). But, this Ardbeg 10 was a gift from another Malt man. The first crack of the cork released a huge peaty blast from within. It was like releasing a peat genie from a bottle. The scent was instant. I passed some into a glass and left to air for a few seconds. On the nose, this revealed a fire that had just gone out, leaving that wonderful smokey/burnt wood scent. First sip, and held in the mouth: an instant hit of peat and burnt wood, accompanied by a moist earthy aroma on the back of the throat! Again, a truly pleasant taste! I am a pipe smoker, and favour the traditional tobaccos of days long ago - like Digger Flake (still available today). As I sit with lit pipe and a glass of Ardbeg 10, the two compliment each other like they were meant to be together. I am not usually a fan of adding water to my malts, but was curious to see what could be coaxed from this Islay malt. How much range has this whisky got? An small dash of water added, swirled and mixed, and then tasted. The peaty fire had died down on the pallate, and I was this time greeted with a much more subtle flavour, still retaining the earthiness and wood aromas, still displaying the peat aroma. I did find a warm citrus after-taste at the back of the throat. It was lighter and had a "happier" more relaxed taste with bitter dark chocolate tones. Upon finishing the first glass, if you breathed in through the nose with mouth closed, closed your eyes, you could still detect the outdoor smells. A peat fire, damp earth after a light rain, fresh leather (like new shoes) and a hint of sea-salt air as if actually standing beside the sea. This malt kept on giving pleasure, long after the glass was dry. I recommend this malt to anyone who likes a peaty flavour to their whisky. It's not as strong as other peat loaded malts on the market, but to me, Ardbeg 10 has got the balance right on everything. Enjoy it with NO distractions. No TV, No computer. Turn the lights out and have a few lit tea-light candles glowing on the mantle piece. Add a CD of your favourite easy listening songs and pour your first glass. Close your eyes and wait....as your tongue transports you to the Western Isles in Scotland, where you will stand on the white sand beach, breath in the sea-salt filled air, smell the fresh cut peat, and feel the warmth of the fire that has been lit to welcome you. No passport is required - Just a good taste in malt whisky. And with Ardbeg 10, you can travel far - without leaving the comfort of your favourite chair. Rating: I give this whisky the full 10 points available. David Gerrard. Banff. Aberdeenshire.
Loved this product from the first glass and after comparisons with other favorites, (Ardbeg Uigeadail, Lagavulin 16, Laphroiag 10 and quarter cask) it still holds that position. Some of the negative reviews here help to point out that this whisky is not for all is really more indicative of ones general preferences. Lots of people love this exemplary Islay drink and for very good reason. Heavenly to savor the smell, taste and lingering fragrances, top of my list.
WOW... Very different, not expected,the Iodine taste was overwhelming from start to finish, big smoke with iodine, huge disappointment. No second chances here, JW red take me back
The three Islay distilleries in a row down south all seem an acquired taste when compared to the massive remainder of single malt Scotch whiskies. The best balance is in the Ardbeg 10, and I'm a fan of the Laphroiag cask strength offerings as well. Good to know what you're getting into before you try.
After all the reviews I really thought I would like this one but what a disappointment! I always take my dram with Irn Bru which I find adds more flavour to a whisky. However I have to say that this did not mix well in fact it tasted quite awful. I'll give this a miss in future and concentrate on the better quality malts Ronald Mitchell
This guy would,nt know a bottle of whisky if he got hit on the head with one. Just stick to the Sugar and water mate!! Oh... got carried away there this stuff is just great but would also recommend the ardbeg uigeadail whish is just bliss!
My favourite malt since I can remember. Oh, and a wee word to the haters... Ardbeg is serious stuff and was never meant for the feint hearted. Do yourself a favour however and come back in a few years when your palette is mature. If you don't taste one of the finest Malt Whiskies on the planet, I'd venture this whisky lark just isn't for you!
So, so smooth, the taste notes hit at an electrifying pace, yet one can determine each and every one. The toasted marshmallow, is simply divine. Only drink if you can fully appreciate, what can only be described as one of the best malts ever. Ballsy, yet subtle. Simply put..YUM!
2 glasses..not pub measures neither.
Talisker, Lagavulin, Laphroig, Bruichladich, tried them all. Ardbeg 10 every time.
An open fire, a well worn Chesterfield chair, a plate of home made smoked salmon and a glass of Ardbeg 10............ PIG IN S**T!!! Eddie in Bolton!
Lagavulin 16, Laphroaig 10, Talisker 10, Bruichladdich the Laddie 10, and perhaps next to Lagavulin 16 the best
Pungent...burn...sharp...finish confusing. Didn't enjoy it. I'll choke it down with its 55€ price tag in Paris. Will not buy again. Lagavulin 16 still at the top of my list. Will try the Uigeadail. I haven't given up on Ardbeg altogether.
Having lived away from the UK for a while, people would often ask for a nip of my whisky if I ordered something 'exotic' in my local well stocked bar. Much like the shopping lists that you see on the side of Barried up motors, people like to list their favourites with a show of pride. Germans were no different when it came to ticking boxes, but Ardbeg was always guaranteed to be the one that they swerved when given a free nose above my glass. Now that i find myself in Norway, I'm pleased that the local Vinmonopolet stocks this as one of their basisutvalg. Perfect for Friday nights in a cabin after a long day's skiing.
I like Ardbeg 10, but it seems to be missing some body and finish - but still good. A good malt to try if you're a fan of peat.
There was such a hype on Ardbeg 10 as the real true character of Islay whiskies. I bought a bottle and could've added a few bucks more for a proper Islay whisky, like Lagavullin. Very disappointed. Too much medicinal / phenol!
I expected a peaty monster, which as it first hits the mouth it delivers, peat and coal by the shovel full, but only for the briefest moment, the sweet malty flavour then comes to the fore, finishing slowly with smoke and sweet malt barley intertwined deliciously, for me a little water makes the peat more complex but at the cost of the sweet malt, so neat every time. Absolutely excellent, I can honestly say I have never enjoyed a whisky more.
It is refreshing change to see a wide range of views on this topic, but I do feel that there is a degree of inverted snobbery in whisky drinking. Having steeled myself to try it, I was pleasantly surprised at the taste considering what an abysmal odour it presents when the bottle is opened; however, that does not make it something I would rave about. Fortunately, there are many more still to try!
I LOVE this Scotch! I feel like a woodsmen drinking this GREAT SCOTCH from the ISLAY! Keep it up ARDBEG!!!
A beautiful smokey peat blast from Islay! Taste like lemony barbecue beef! Keep up the good work ARDBEG!!!!