Single Malt Archives

The Juice: Ardbeg 10 year old

This Islay malt has been named the official 2008 World Whiskey of the year by Jim Murray in his annual Whiskey Bible. They were open for over 150 years before they had to close the doors in the early '80s. In 1997 the distillery was re-opened in full force with the financial backing of Glenmorangie. It is one of the "Big 3" distilleries in South Islay.

The Notes:

Color: Pale straw
Nose: Peat smoke, soot, light apple or lime, floral notes
Palate: tar, leather, peat
Finish: Peat smoke, soot

The Verdict: 8.5/10

I don't know that there is such a thing as too much smoke, but if there is, its in this bottle. It is much heavier than Caol Ila, especially in the nose. Try it with an aged cheddar or nice cigar if you want to cut a little bit of the smoke. However, if you are like me, you want all the smoke you can get. Throw about 5 drops of water in there and it will release some of those aromas. Ardbeg has a lifetime pass in the rotation, and will always be available in my bar.