This is a small fire about to dwindle, the smoke rises overtop a beautiful slow roasting pound of bacon. If you like it, you love it. The nose is a delicious summer fire, roasting meat follows after the smoke subsides. The palate is luscious peat and smoke followed by pepper smoked bacon wrapped in seaweed. Some salt comes across as it makes it way down. The finish is smooth and medium, feeling medicinal as you savour the taste. This bottle is unapologetically itself, you want peat? You want smoke? Perhaps even iodine? This is your bottle. While Ardbeg does a great job of offering smoke with additional dimensions of fruit and meat, it doesn’t make its Islay peat pride it’s priority. Laphroaig on the other hand clearly lets you know what it’s strength is. I am a fan of both, but in comparing the two 10 years (and they are both very good in their own way), I will reach for Laphroaig 10 year.