Tastes

A nice smoky nose with scents off old wood and some cinnamon. The palate is full and almost chewy in a way. A hit of smoke but nothing extreme followed by some toffee, tobacco, and dark chocolate. The finish is sweet with some lingering smoke but it fades rather quickly to me. Overall a will balanced dram that doesn't make a fuss about it's higher alcohol content. Very good and on the same level as the Ardbeg 10, though they get there a bit differently. The Quarter Cask takes a smoother, though perhaps a bit less interesting, road to my shelf.

Peated smoke, cooked meats, tobacco, and coffee with a touch of a spicy sweetness. The prototypical Ardbeg taste delivered in a straight ahead manner. Perhaps a bit harsh for those who aren't into or are just getting into peated scotch. For my money, Arbeg 10 sits as the bar which a scotch must pass to clear 4.0

Rich and sweet with some fruit and honey flavors. Bit of a woody finish. Easy to relax with and a good "everyday dram" for when you aren't looking for something to specifically interest your palate. The yard stick for having a spot on the shelf. Great to keep around for those who want to try scotch but don't have any experience.

Had some sweetness to pair with the somewhat stereotypical scotch flavors. Easy drinking but not very complex. Decent dream for the inexperienced. Overall not bad but not good enough to find a home on my shelf.

Balanced peat, white pepper, anise, and cooked meat. A touch of coffee, dark fruit (mostly cherry), and brine. A warm driftwood nighttime fire on the beach. Everything great about Ardbeg 10 Year taken up a few notches. This scotch coats your mouth to make its statement and then hangs around for a while to make sure you understood. Big, bold, intense, and an instant favorite. Not just a welcome sight on the shelf but an honored guest.