Ardbeg 10 Year

The ultimate briny meat smoke

Light, vaguely acidic smell. Fresh and interesting taste

Sweet and smokey - perfect combination.

Neck Pour Nose: Lapsang souchong tea, piney, a hint of blackberries, anise, orange peel, and coffee with a medicinal note of rubber gloves and alcohol. Taste after 10 minutes: Viscous on the arrival with a hint of salty sweetness. The mid palate opens up bitter like 90% dark chocolate with very heavy medicinal peat smoke. As the smoke fades, anise opens up on the finish with the dark chocolate turning into milk chocolate and coffee. A very light clouding occurred with the addition of 5ml of water. The nose has opened up to more barley and became slightly honied with less smoke. Taste after 5 ml of water and 10 minutes: The flavors opened up and became more distinct. The saltiness and sweetness separated, and the blackberries became more prominent. The dark chocolate and coffee became more rounded and fuller. There is a similar bittersweetness of absinthe on the finish along with the smoke. Comments: This whiskey's legs are one of the slowest I have seen yet, and it has a very unique flavor profile. Fantastic stuff, but I'm not fully on board with the experience yet given that this whisky is drastically different compared to some of the other peated whiskies I have had like Lagavulin 16, Highland Park 12, Talisker 10, and Ardbeg Wee Beastie. This one is making me think about all of the layers and complex notes. Fantastic value given the complexity, non-chill filtration, and natural color. That being said, this is not a whiskey to start with as it is a beast to understand.

Nose: medicinal peat, burning campfire, fresh cut grass,hints of buttery vanilla Palate: big smokey peat, pine resin, honey, seawater, a bit of fruit sneaks through Finish: almost all savoury ashy smoke, brine, a touch of creamy vanilla to round it out The classic ardbeg is still the standard to best for big but rounded peat at a reasonable price. Hints of sweet shine through the savory peat add some fullness to what's otherwise a peat bomb.