Jason_Hall
Ardbeg 10 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
September 18, 2020 (edited October 27, 2020)
Alright, so after jumping head first into heavily peated single malts like Lphroaig 10, I’m finally getting to this one. I’m so excited!
The nose is fairly salty, and definitely smokey and a little sweet. The peaty/smoke note is slightly medicinal/iodine, but mostly rich, charred brisket roasted over a smoldering campfire. Underneath the intense smoke you can find some vanilla and citrus.
The palate is slightly silky and very smokey, like a very charred wood type of smoke and ash. There is some pear, vanilla and charred bbq brisket.
The finish is long with the same charred wood smoke from the palate that lingers. There is a touch of vanilla that comes and fades quickly, with the smoke surpassing it. And then a cayenne spiciness comes out until the end.
Wow, I am very impressed! I really enjoyed the Laphroaig 10 year and really enjoy this one did not disappoint. It’s hard to say which one I like better, but this one is definitely on the more savory side where the Laphroaig is a little cleaner smoke, if that makes any sense.
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@Juliano_La_Zar The cleaner smoke I was referring to as Laphroaig 10, which I was comparing the Ardbeg 10 to at the end. I say the cleaner smoke in the laphroaig is referring to it being less dense of a smoke, where the ardbeg is very BBQ/smoked meat heavy smoke. Don’t get me wrong, Laphroaig is still super smokey, it’s just different. JW Black is not anywhere as peaty as these are.
I like your description would 'cleaner' mean something like less 'smoldering' and more 'flame' regarding the peat fire? I have heard the Johnnie 12 described as a smoldering peat fire taste, so I am excited to try the Ardbeg to evaluate the differences.
@Jason_Hall it’s almost like drinking a completely different spirit sometimes. Cheers to the ongoing journey!
@WhiskeyLonghorn Yes, I have been smitten by peaty scotches for sure! As well as scotch in general. Something finally clicked, especially with the peat and now I “get it” and love it. It’s fun going back to bourbon after heavily diving into scotch. I feel like I approach bourbon a little differently, in a good way.
Your whiskey journey reminds me of my own. I got started on bourbon (you never forget your first love), and the got bitten by the peated scotch bug, and later the sherry finished scotch bug. Still love all those bit I’ve been circling back to bourbon and rye this year. So many whiskies. So little time!