46°
Distillery : Ardbeg - Islay
1st Fill and Refill Ex-Bourbon Barrels
Original Bottling
Core Range Single Malt
Launched in 2000
Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured
Peated around 54 ppm
Although heavily peated, it is the most typical and easy to find expression of the distillery, and the very first to be launched after its reopening in 1997, first as a limited edition, then within the Core Range.
Let's Taste it :
When I inhale a glass of Ardbeg Ten, I always feel like I've been punched in the face. 54 ppm. Yes, it's violent, it's smoky peat that explodes on the nose, pure peat with very few nuances, but very round. As the nose continues to develop, all its complexity is revealed, with hints of oil, salt, wet grass, earth, spices, caramel, blood oranges and a hint of ginger. All in perfect balance. The alcohol plays elbows and muddles the cards, it messes with our senses, it's not an easy drink, it's a furious, runaway horse. The rodeo continues on the palate, with all the pepper and spices pouring out, it's earthy, salty, slightly caramelised, intense, with a touch of citrus fruits on the finish, perhaps clementine. What an explosion when you swallow! It's like being immersed in the earth, with the caramel and citrus fruits coming through. The malt clings to the palate, leaving echoes of smoke. You come away stunned.
In Short,
A powerful and vegetal peat blast accompanied by a hint of citrus. A classic not to be missed under any circumstances.
Score : 88
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love
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