@cascode I’m confusing the 10 with the An Oa apparently. Looking back at my notes I got a lot of chalky components in the An Oa

@AntonioSchmid Ha! Only Ardbeg could kill an IPA ;-) @Generously_Paul I've not noticed the chalky note that people have mentioned in recent batches. The 10 year did hit a flat spot about a decade ago after the old Allied stocks dried up, but for me anyway it's been one of the most consistent moderate age statement Islays. Personally I wouldn't bother paying silly money for old bottlings at auction.

@cascode It also works the other way around but after some Ardbeg 10 you'll find out the bitterness of your IPA has gone missing! ;)

@AntonioSchmid A reverse chaser? Hmm, never tried it with Ardbeg but it sounds interesting - but remember the old adage: "Beer then whisky ... could be risky, but whisky then beer ... never fear" :-)

@Generously_Paul, I have tried it many times (at home, at bars, at the Distillery, etc) and never felt this chalky note. But I also heard many times that current bottles can't compare with old bottlings when they used to have older stock inside the "TEN". Let the hunt (for an old bottling) begin... :)

The newer batches are said to be chalky and not quite the quality that they were a couple years ago.