Just over 3,000 people live on the island of Islay, which is the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Scottish Isles and just 240 square miles in size. However, the island is one of only five distilling districts in Scotland that have legal protection for their identity.

The MacDougall family established Ardbeg Distillery in 1815, and it is located on the southern coast of Islay. The distillery, which employs about one-third of Islay’s workforce by 1886, is a reminder of Scottish culture and traditions.

The malted barley used to make Ardbeg Single Malt Scotch Whisky is peated to about 50 phenol parts per million (compared to 110 phenol ppm for Leviathan II Whiskey and 169 ppm for Octomore 5.1). When the peated barley reaches the distillery, it is ground and mashed using water from Loch Uigeadail, which is about three miles away.

The mashed barley is then fermented in Oregon pine washbacks. Wooden washbacks absorb some of the heat produced during fermentation, making the whisky lighter and richer, but they are more costly and more difficult to maintain than stainless steel washbacks. Furthermore, the whisky receives estery and carbolic chemicals from the wooden washbacks.

After 55 hours of fermentation, the wash undergoes two distillations: one in a copper-pot wash still and another in a copper-pot spirit still. A purifier, which serves as a miniature condenser and pumps some of the evaporating vapors back into the pot for re-distillation, is part of the spirit still. This purification method, which is uncommon in the industry, produces whiskey with a distinctively malty and crisp flavor.

Ardbeg Ten Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is matured for ten years on the weather-beaten island of Islay after it has been distilled. Ardbeg Ten is bottled at 92 percent, which preserves the most flavor, body, and depth. Most whiskies are chill-filtered and lowered to an 80 proof strength.

Softer flavors of vanilla and lemon zest counterbalance Ardbeg Ten’s strong scents of seaside air, taffy, and an unmistakable peat smoke. Espresso, chocolate-covered almonds, and barley grains all contribute to the finish’s pleasant seasoning, which is slightly sweet.

Ardbeg Ten Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky was described as “wonderfully distinctive” by renowned whisky writer Michael Jackson. According to Jim Murray’s 2008 Whisky Bible World Whisky of the Year award, “If perfection on the palate exists, this is it.”

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Ardbeg whisky 10​ Notes on Tasting

On the palate, there are subtle notes of vanilla and lemon zest that counterbalance the rich scents of coastal air, taffy, and an unmistakable peat smoke. Espresso, chocolate-covered almonds, and barley grains all contribute to the finish’s pleasant seasoning, which is slightly sweet.