Nose: The initial aroma is of resinous lemon-scented smoke with a pungently oily character. It’s distinctive and sharp, with a more bracing quality than other Islay smoky profiles. White pepper, sea-spray and tarry ropes appear in the background. The current bottlings [as at mid-2019] also have a more citrus-forward profile than previous batches. Palate: The arrival is all oily smoke, sour peat water, brine and lemon zest. However as bright as it is there is a balancing depth and sweetness, but it’s a slightly astringent sweet taste rather than a thick vanilla sweetness (although there is a touch of vanilla there as well). As it develops you notice heavier components in the background that lend thickness to the texture – caramel, smoky tea, roasted almonds, pine-tree resin and licorice. These supporting flavours all have a thread of subtle salt running through them which adds a dryness to the spirit. This perfectly balances the sweet/sour citrus and tarry smoke. Balance is the keyword here, and it’s what makes the palate of this highly distillate-driven expression so very good. Finish: Long. Smoky, nutty and lemon hints, all fading to a very slightly sweet finale. There are some whiskies that, as soon as you sniff them after having not had one for a while, bring a smile to the face and thoughts of “why did I wait so long to come home?”. Ardbeg 10 is one such whisky, and to my mind recent batches have been particularly good. There is a special quality to the smoky component in Ardbeg that calls to mind the scent of a forest where a fire has recently passed through, followed by heavy rain. It’s that wet, pungent aroma of dead fire and ash without the choking hot cloud of the smoke itself. It’s similar to the smell of a cold peat-kiln or fireplace, or the ash-box of a steam engine. Smoky but austere and calm. Everything in the Ardbeg line is worth trying but the core 10 year expression has great balance and integration. It’s also consistent and good value. This is one of the standout whiskies produced from the triumvirate of distilleries that nest along the south-east coast of Islay. “Very Good” : 87/100 (4.25 stars)