The King of summer: Ardbeg 10 vs Lagavulin 8 I love peaty scotches and really lean into them during the cold weather months but also like to have a couple of bottles in my summer rotation. Two of my favorites are Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 8 so I thought I should do a showdown to see who the true king of summer is. Over the past couple of days, I’ve been tasting these side-by-side .... Ardbeg 10 This is a camping trip in a bottle. On the nose, I get smoke, pine needles, wet grass, bug spray (in a good way) and bandaids. Palate: Eucalyptus, marshmallow, salt, and teriyaki grilled fish. Finish: Smoldering campfire, vanilla ice cream and mint Thoughts: It’s clean (for a peaty scotch), lightweight but flavorful, and beautifully refined. Lagavulin 8 If Ardbeg 10 is a camping trip, this is a sunny day at the beach. The nose is bright and vibrant. I smell apples, green papaya, fresh cherries, charcoal briquettes, toasted bread and flameed banana. Palate: Saltwater, grilled peach, dried apricot, and a sweet maltiness Finish: Newspaper ash and honey butter Thoughts: it’s amazing how good young peated whiskies can be. This one is so fresh and engaging; it’s perfect for a summer evening. Verdict: I love both of these and will continue to have them in my summer rotation. But, if I was a castaway on a desert island and had to choose one, Ardbeg 10 would be my Wilson. It has all the excitement and vitality of Laga 8 but the flavors are a little more integrated and the mouthfeel is just perfect. It is so good!