Ardbeg 10 Year Old
If you enjoy peated whisky is there a better place to start than the classic ten year old from Ardbeg? Personally I prefer unpeated whisky but there is so much to love about this whisky from the south coast of Islay. The Ardbeg distillery shares just two miles of this coastline with the Lagavulin and Laphroaig distilleries and stands as one of these three peat powerhouses renowned around the world.
Bottle
One of the distinctive features of this whisky bottle is its colour. Most whisky bottles are clear, showing off the colour of the spirit inside, yet Ardbeg have elected for green glass for their bottles keeping the cooler a secret until you pour your first dram. The styling of the bottle is, however, quite striking. The distinctive letter ‘A’ shown on their bottles was trademarked in 1911(!) showcasing the history this whisky has - the distillery has been putting out whisky for over 200 years! This really comes through in the instantly recognisable bottle and label design.
Colour
The hue of this ancient dram is on the pale side. A pale gold, maybe even a pale straw colour.
Nose - The first thing to hit you is smokiness, as you would expect. This strong coastal aroma too, just behind the peat, with brine and sea spray emerging. There is slight sweetness as well, maybe a little vanilla.
Palate - The first sip starts with the vanilla, an unexpected sweetness that is quickly followed by the punch of the peat. Dry hay and charred wood make up much of the Ardbeg smoke that is so well loved.
Finish - A very long and delightful finish. A bonfire on the beach on a chilly evening is the best way I can think to describe this. A slight nuttiness lingers as the smoke slowly (very slowly) fades.
Overall
One of the cornerstones of peated whisky with so much history and experience distilled into each drop. If you haven’t tried this whisky, you really must. The smokiness is intense and full throttled but for a newcomer to peated whisky this is the perfect place to start. A true classic for a very reasonable price.
Available from Master of Malt for around £42, or check price and availability at Amazon