Ardbeg 10 Year

Review #53 - Whisk(e)y #37 My initial experience with peated / smoky whisky! About time indeed! Chill-filtered - No Artificial Colour - No ABV - 46% Appearance - very light, pale straw, long legs, viscous. Nose - Wow. Is this even whisky? Smells of gasoline, burnt tire, burnt rubber, tarmac, heavy smoke (which is more prominent with oxidation), medicinal. Underlying citrus, and vanilla, no alcohol, a bit sour in the background, and perhaps very subtle menthol. Palate - same as on the nose, extremely intense. Strong oak spice on the front. Menthol, light sea salt, oily, vanilla, sweetness and savory notes, meaty, grilled fat, on the mid-palate, and then the burnt tire returns on the back end. Heavy, unusual for something following 36 unpeated whiskies. Finish - medium-long, smoke, charred wood, burnt rubber. Smoky and bitter dark chocolate, a very long aftertaste. I anticipated something completely different, more savory, more smoke, and less of this rubber, which is unfortunately very noticeable. Intriguing, but not necessarily my preference at this moment. I understand it, I appreciate it, but I don't like it at all... I find it utterly disgusting, it bothers my stomach, I simply cannot drink it. Rating System: 5.0 - Perfect 4.5 - Exceptional 4.0 - Very Good 3.5 - Good 3.0 - Decent 2.5 - Average 2.0 - Below Average 1.5 - Barely Drinkable 1.0 - Undrinkable 0.5 - JB

NEAT NOSE - Campfire Ash is the dominant note, supported by faint traces of vanilla, pear, and citrus peel. PALATE - The palate is defined by a sweet, ashy, earthy peat smoke along with some brininess. The peat then begins to fade, giving way to soft notes of vanilla, hinting at the ex-bourbon casks. Make no mistake, the peat is present throughout the palate, and towards the back, you get the pear and a pleasant honeycrisp apple note. The mouthfeel is nice and oily. FINISH - A long and lingering sweet, savory peat smoke alongside oak. BUY? - Yes, but similar to me, it might take some time to develop an appreciation for this one. BUY AGAIN? - When I first tried this, all I could perceive was iodine, bandaids, and relentless smoke with nothing else. It felt like opening a BBQ pit and breathing in smoke directly. Over two years, I've attempted to learn to appreciate it with about six small pours, to no success. Last week, something shifted. I'm not sure if it was the time the bottle had been open or experimenting with more single malts, but I was able to get past the smoke and now appreciate this whisky for its distinct and surprisingly savory flavor profile. I can't believe it, but I'm now eager to try more peated whiskies. Given the price, I'll likely repurchase this when it's empty, unless I find I prefer other expressions from this distillery.

July 2024 - Vincent Piano bar - Berlin. Pale color. Smells of quality peat. The initial taste is crystalline and refreshing before all the Scottish power is revealed in the second taste, with the peat from this land blessed by the gods of whisky. A third, spicy taste assaults the palate and carries the slightly smoky peat flavors to other dimensions. The peat and spice leave an impression of Scottish power in the mouth and chest... like bagpipes resonating deep in a valley to remind us of the value of Scottish hearts and the power of their whisky. A whisky for men, that revitalizes the taste buds and hearts. It has character and body... I appreciate it greatly... Tasted at Vincent Piano Bar, while listening to a pianist play jazz notes that floated into the Berlin sky.

Ardbeg 10 year was among the first single malts I tried when I began exploring scotch. Before that, I had only a few blends and mostly drank bourbon or rum. This bottle opened my eyes to what I was missing. The nose has iodine, peat, and moss. On the palate, I get hay, smoke, and malt with just a bit of heat. The finish is very long; you'll taste the peat at the back of your throat for hours afterward. As my palate has developed over the years, I don't find this one as exceptional as some other entry-level single malts (like Springbank & Talisker). I still think it's very good. I'm just uncertain if my fondness for it is influencing my judgment. Regardless, I would recommend it.

Once known as 'the guardian of Islay', Ardbeg Ten has long since lost this title to Port Charlotte. The nose offers briny peat smoke, lemon zest, and aniseed, joined by green olives, rock pools, and pickled cucumbers. The honey-sweet arrival is less intense than I recall, but it quickly picks up speed with citrus fruits, peppermint, and abundant ash and tar. Salty licorice, melon, and oysters emerge, and I detect lime juice, iodine, and grilled pineapple in the long, peaty finish. It's not quite as good as it used to be, but it's still holding its own. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

Total Score: 4.12 [English] [Nose] - Strong smokiness. - Smooth medicinal peaty scent. - Very little alcohol aroma. - Faint molasses and cacao. - Fragrant floral and woody scent from bourbon casks. - Mild caramel scent from an empty glass. [Palate] - Salty - Mild spiciness. - Woody savoriness. - Smoky [Finish] - Sweetness lingers. - Smoky aftertaste.