Distiller Notes
2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal Winner
Ardbeg Ten Years Old is revered around the world as the peatiest, smokiest, most complex single malt of them all. Yet it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008.Professional Ratings
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Whisky Advocate
Classic ‘southern shores’ Islay from the onset: salty and medicinal on the nose, with smoked haddock, citrus fruits, and milk chocolate. The palate yields full-on hot peat, pipe tobacco, black coffee, licorice, and more chocolate. The finish is long and malty, with sweet smoke. Non-chill filtered.
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Wine Enthusiast
This Islay single malt has a straw hue and saline, seaweed and peat aromas underpinned by light vanilla and coconut. The palate is distinctly smoky, and has a mouthwatering saline quality, with a pepper and jalapeño finish. Faint vanilla and pineapple notes play underneath. Keep a light hand on the water, this washes out easily.
For over 200 years, Ardbeg has been made on the small, remote Scottish Isle of Islay. Some people travel to Ardbeg along the winding road from Port Ellen. Others follow their nose, their destiny or the advice of a good friend.
The Ardbeg Distillery lies on the rugged southern coast of Islay. Extreme conditions from the Atlantic shape Ardbeg’s unique water supply characteristics. Ardbeg’s soft, pure water comes from Loch Uigeadail, up the hill from the distillery. The Loch is the namesake for Ardbeg Uigeadail. By sitting close to the sea, the whisky also receives a certain salty, iodine character while it matures.
“A good gulp of hot Scotch Whisky at bedtime–it’s not very scientific, but it helps!”
Alexander Fleming, Scottish inventor of penicillin, prescribed it as a cure for the common cold. Today Single Malt Scotch Whiskies are prized by enthusiasts and aficionados the world over for their rarity, age and complexity. By definition these must be produced in Scotland from a single distillery and made entirely from malted barley, using a pot still. The appearance, aroma and flavor of a Single Malt Scotch Whisky can vary widely depending on whether it was produced in the Highlands, Lowlands Islands, Speyside, Islay or Campbelltown regions.