Ardbeg Ten
46% abv
Score: 90.5/100
It doesn’t get more ‘Islay’ than this. Ardbeg Ten is one of the truest expressions of an Islay single malt I have ever encountered. It epitomizes the region and style. Quite possibly the greatest ten year old whisky I’ve tried and most likely the best entry level expression to come from any of the ‘big eight’ on Islay.
It is the fountainhead of Ardbeg’s resurrection, and as such, it stands as a monument to the rebirth of the distillery. Its clean lines, sharp angles, austere clarity and defined character have shown that the distillery has not only pulled off the Lazarus act, but done so with style.
Interesting to note…old stocks saw the light of day when the distillery reopened in 1997 under Glenmorangie, but quickly disappeared in expressions such as the brilliant ‘17’ and ‘Airigh Nam Beist’. At this time the oldest expression in the Ardbeg core range is this, the Ten. And even still…demand outstrips supply. No wonder there is little old stock hitting the market outside of the indies.
Straight outta that sexy emerald bottle, this is a light straw-like color, quite similar to pale diffuse sunshine, and it prickles at the nostrils a little, ‘cause hey…let’s face it…this is a young whisky.
The nose is all about campfires and smoldering peat. Salty coastal notes and briny iodine are everywhere. Next…buckets of freshly squeezed citrus fruit and a mild nutty vanilla leeched from the bourbon oak. The charred wood notes are to die for and marry well with wispy stirrings of anise (which appear a little more boldly on the palate).
Heat, peat and smoke on delivery and arrival. These come right up front, ride along through the development and stay until the party is over. Surprisingly the Ten is somewhat creamy and vanilla-noted. There is fruit there as well…mostly young ripe green fruit and lemon rind. The finish has just a touch of melon behind the oaky vanillins, smoke and drying green apple skin tartness.
This is coat-your-mouth, room-scenting, firewater. Well worth taking the time to savor.
Ardbeg firing on all cylinders is a nearly unstoppable machine, and it speaks volumes about the quality of the pure spirit when the distillery’s entry level expression, at a mere ten years of age, is this bloody good.
- Reviewed by: Curt
- Photo: Curt
Good review! I really like your descriptors and would agree they’re all there in spades. The Ten is a powerful, straight-ahead whisky and so, despite all the flavours, I wouldn’t say it’s “complex” in the conventional sense (Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think we’re in agreement there). It’s kind of a Gatling gun of tastes – Josey Wales cleaning house – rather than a symphony.
This stuff does sit right on the cusp of greatness, and is well inside if one factors age into account – a true benchmark malt. It is expensive for an entry-level expression, but a peat lover who takes the plunge will never regret it – and many of those who fall in by accident become peat lovers! (Shout out to the Scotch Guru!)
Basically agree with the review and comment. My “go to” dram at the end of a tasting session ( I have 6 bottles on hand). I should point out that I’ve recently noticed quality varies significantly between bottle numbers. L11 052 was noticeably weaker than others and maybe an 83, whereas L11 321 is about normal and an 87. However, L11 195 is very, very good (91) and makes me smile from ear to ear. So check the numbers on the back of the bottle and keep track of the quality. And if you find a “195″ send it my way, as I’ve already scoured all the stores in my area and snagged them all.
Excellent information! I’ll be on the lookout for 195s. Thanks!
Had a dram of Balvenie Single Barrell and one of Glenlivet Nadurra while watching footbal earlier today. I think the Balvenie slightly wins out, but both are very good. Now, while putting up Christmas lights, I took a Bowmore 18 break, followed by a dram of Ardbeg 10. God, what does Ardbeg put in that whisky! It’s a 2010 bottle that is wonderful. Great whisky, especially at the price!!
Robert, you obviously don’t live in Ontario. I just compared the LCBO with one Calgary store. Ardbeg 10 is 30 dollars cheaper, and the price difference for the others is as high as 80 dollars!
We don’t get a great selection, but prices are apparently quite good. Ardbeg 10 is about $40 with tax while I think the Bowmore 18 was $90 wtax. The other two were around $60-65. A’bunadh batch 40 was $50 wtax the other day, so I grabbed one even though I have some left. I also got decent deals on Corry, Laga 16 and two HP 18′s, along with a Nadurra Triumph. Stockin up for the Holler Daze!
40 dollars for Ardbg 10! We pay 99! rip off