| Reputedly
once the hideout of a gang of smugglers, there was a family of MacDougalls
at Ardbeg since 1798, one of whom started a legal distillery in 1815.
The family retained its interest in the distillery until 1977, when
it was sold to Hiram Walker. Allied Distillers bought it in 1989 and
sold to the present owners, Glenmorangie, in 1997.
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Ardbeg
10-year-old (bottled 1993), 40 vol
Keith Lovegrove,
Publisher, WhiskyMan.com
A personal favorite,
Ardbeg is perhaps the peatiest whisky on the planet. Unmistakably
Islay, it's a punch of peat and a slap of seaweed, and yet it is
also beautifully balanced, complex and deep. The distillery was
recently reopened and I wonder, as I repeatedly enjoy this delightful
whisky, if the finish doesn't retain just a hint of mothballs.
Color - Light
amber with pale gold highlights.
Nose - Unmistakable,
peat, more peat and smoke. Iodine and sea breezes.
Palate - Strong.
Dry with
a trace of sweetness. Smoky peat and seaweed.
Finish -
Powerful with hints of the sea, yet delicate and smooth.
| Rating |
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For novices? |
Yes, but hold onto something! |
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