What is Ardbeg 10 Year Old Whisky?

The definition of Ardbeg 10 Year Old Whisky

Ardbeg 10 is a peated Scotch whisky from Islay that has been aged for a decade.

When it comes to peat, aficionados generally consider Ardbeg 10 as the benchmark.

The words ‘peat’ and ‘Ardbeg’ have become synonymous with one another over the distillery’s long history. The 10-year-old is the malt all other Ardbeg expressions are held to, with a peat level of 55 parts-per-million the Ardbeg 10 lies on the higher end of the scale when compared against other peated whiskies on the market. Pure ecstasy for the peat-heads.

Ardbeg is an obvious choice if you’re buying for someone who considers themselves a peat-head, not for the faint-hearted or those with an easily-offended pallet. The Ardbeg 10 is also a good option for creating interesting mixed drinks. Used sparingly, Ardbeg 10 can add lovely smoky notes to many classic cocktails.

In Short?

Appearance: Light straw.
Nose: Peat, smoke and medicinal band-aid notes.
Taste: Brine, malt biscuits and notes of wet mown lawn.
Finish: Persistent iodine and smoke uncut by dried apricots and whipped cream.
Overall: Big, big, peat-in-your-face character. This carries undercurrents of dried fruit, earthy notes and floral spices, as long as you take your time.

ABV: 46.0%
Volume: 700ml

What Is Scotch Whisky?

Scotch whisky is a very broad category consisting of various styles, regions and production methods. It is unclear whether Ireland or Scotland was the first to produce whisky but it is likely that the practise became common in both countries concurrently. It is commonly thought that the knowledge of distillation was brought to Scotland (and Ireland) by monks returning from the Mediterranean and the Middle East in around 1000AD.

The Smallprint:

Where and by whom is it distilled?
Ardbeg 10 Year is produced at the Ardbeg Distillery on the Isle of Islay, well known for its peated whiskies, which have been produced there since 1798.

What, exactly, goes into it?
Water, Malted Barley, Yeast.

Any other recommendations?
If the person you’re buying for is a fan of the Ardbeg 10, you could also try Caol Ila 12, Talisker 10 or Laphroaig 10.