We have a very exciting malt this month for November – Ardbeg 10 year old.
We have not done an islay malt since December last year, so it is well overdue.
For over 200 years, Ardbeg has been made on the small, remote Scottish Isle of Islay. Some people travel to Ardbeg Distillery along the winding road from Port Ellen. Others follow their nose, their destiny or the advice of a good friend.
The Ardbeg 10 year old has been announced as the WORLD WHISKY OF THE YEAR for 2008. We can understand why. It is 10 years old and carries a fair punch with 46% alc/vol.
DISTILLERS NOTES
Bottle Size : 700ml
ABV : 46% abv
Region : Scotland – Islay
Peated : Yes
Nose: A burst of intense smoky fruit escapes into the atmosphere – peat infused with zesty lemon and lime, wrapped in waxy dark chocolate. Bold menthol and black pepper slice through the sweet smoke followed by tarry ropes and graphite. Savour the aroma of smoked fish and crispy bacon alongside green bell peppers, baked pineapple and pear juice.
Add water to the Ardbeg 10yo and an oceanic minerality brings a breath of cool, briny seaspray. Waxed lemon and lime follows with coal tar soap, beeswax and herby pine woodlands. Toasted vanilla and sizzling cinnamon simmer with warm hazelnut and almond toffee.
Taste: An explosion of crackling peat sets off millions of flavour explosions: peat effervesces with tangy lemon and lime juice, black pepper pops with sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee. Then comes a wave of brine infused with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas and currants. Smoke gradually wells up on the palate bringing a mouthful of warm creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. As the taste lengthens and deepens, dry espresso, liquorice root and tarry smoke develop coating the palate with chewy peat oils.
Finish: The finish goes on and on – long and smoky with tarry espresso, aniseed, toasted almonds and traces of soft barley and fresh pear.
