Ardbeg Ten

Beautiful smoky aromas, lovely dryness, an Ardbeg as it should be. We were particularly impressed by the depth of the taste. The 2018 batch had particularly lovely maritime, warm smoky aromas. From three flights with batches from: 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021 and 2023 we had the following order: 1st place: 2016 2nd place: 2018 3rd place: 2011

Once regarded as 'the guardian of Islay', Ardbeg Ten has long since lost this title to Port Charlotte. On the nose, briny peat smoke, lemon zest and aniseed are accompanied by green olives, rock pools and pickled cucumbers. The honey-sweet arrival is a bit tamer than I remembered it, but it quickly gathers steam with citrus fruits, peppermint and loads of ash and tar. Salty licorice, melon and oysters move forward, and I'm getting lime juice, iodine and grilled pineapple in the long and peaty finish. Not quite what it used to be, but it's hanging in there. RATING: 3.9/5.0 stars ≙ 86 pts → FIRST-CLASS [-]

One of the all-time Islay classics. You can't go wrong with Ardbeg Ten if you're looking for a beautifully peated bourbon-matured whisky. Typical Ardbeg smoke, fresh citrus notes, and a pleasant sweetness.

The aroma of campfire, ash, vanilla, and citrus. The taste is the same as the nose, plus a subtle smoky, salty note. An excellent base release. 22, 21, 21, 21

A lot of smoke, pane tree

Nice and smoky. Full flavor and lingers in the mouth for a long time.

Perfectly pleasant, but tastes very mundane when I compare it to the Lord of the Isles bottle I supped - I can still recall some 20 years on, whereas I probably won't recall this tomorrow.

Advec's Basics

Whisky tasting on 2025 05 31

Exceptionally light in color, just slightly straw-colored. Oily texture.

Very bright

The color is light lemon. The aroma has smoky tones, burnt wood, burnt paper, lemon pie, an emphasis on smoky-sour, cranberry. The taste is lemon, apple, peach, burnt wood, quite salty. The aftertaste is burnt wood and smoked. 88/100 September 25, 2025

Jollekin ehkä, mutta ei mulle.

It was proposed to calibrate the receptors with the classic Ardbeg Ten. And the basic release did not disappoint! On the inhale there is bright, ashy smoke combined with notes of lime and lemon zest, sea salt, wildflower herbs and light bourbon vanilla. The taste of the whisky feels a pungent attack of smoke, there is even more lemon, and ginger and pepper spices have come to the fore. The aftertaste is persistent. The sample is verified and perfectly sets up for further analysis of experiments.

Exceptionally light, light straw color. Oily structure.

Over time it lost the quality that it was once praised for, however it is still good.

Legendary whisky. One of the pillars of Islay. Yet it remains as simple as possible. TEN years of maturation in ex-bourbon. AND the peat. Ay. The peat at its finest, purest way. THIS is the reason that it is legendary. Simple and beautiful. On the nose fresh, crispy, lemony, yet on the heavy way - peaty. Peaty, mossy water, with a touch of aniese. Toasts with melted butter... On the palate breakfast English tea with milk, scones with salted butter, and honey. On the windy, sunny day. Or rainy as you wish. On Islay...

I'm new in whisky. This one has strong taste. Hard to drink. It is really different and characteristic. I agree with the comments about being smoky and burned rubber. Long finish. I don't know what too feel.

A strongly smoky whisky broken up with sweet tones of vanilla and citrus.

The aroma is active, peaty, smoky, as if leaning over a burning fire. The aroma does not develop, it is rather one-sided, but its power does not weaken even after an hour. Taste – sweet peat, vanilla, light honey and ginger. Pepperiness, smokedness and spices.

Fruity spirit hidden by strong feet

I'd rather choose laphroaig qc

Bottled 2014 - 84 Bottled 2018 - 81 Bottled 2022 - 80

Nose: Pharmacy cabinet meets a cup of Lapsang tea. Peat welcomes you but not gently. Palate: Ripe grapefruit is definetely there. Citrus soreness and freshness with lots of peat Finish: Real short finish, it doesn’t let you enjoy the aftertaste after a sip. Salt and caramel tastes fade away. 46%Abv Bourbon Casks Non-chill filtered & no color added Score: 82/100

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2026/02/15/bottle-polishing-two-ardbeg/ It’s been a year since my last Ardbeg 10 [WLP288], a comfort-bringing staple I frequently rave about. Despite often drumming on about objectivity, it’s always a relief when one’s initial [subjective] reaction to opening a new bottle is favourable – but am I talking myself into it? N: With peat, a given [but of its character?], we’ve something of a whipped white butter, more than a splash of [NZ] sauvignon blanc, one olive oil-brushed crumpet, new [highly toxic but scarily comforting] wrapping plastic, grassy [almost butyric, mezcal-esque] cactal brine, the last vine leaf from a tin and the juice-of, tinned sweetcorn, pizza ham, [supermarket sushi] pickled ginger,… But all this yada is by the by. I’ve had several peated whiskies open over the winter [PC10, [SB10], Longrow & Hazelburn hand fills, two IB Laphroaigs, Loch Lomond,…], and this year’s Ardbeg 10 did not fare well against any of them. T: Nothing glaringly problematic, but we’re low on culinary satisfaction with an indeterminate grassy cereal sour butyric-licourice into some [not exclusively Loch Lomond-esque] crud, diesel engine wood smoke delivery into apple tea and then “uurgh”. Though some oiliness does start to build on the tongue, it’s more prone to drying, ever-sour, and as piercing as frozen champagne [not recommended] before becoming more like waxed cardboard. This wants pairing with either nuts & chocolate or roll mop if that’s your bag. F: Sour smoky cardboard-dry finish, a pinch of pepper-seasoned kale to barley sugar, limoo oman [sour dried lime], a bitter charcoal from one thick burnt out log,… but again, all this yada is by the by. I shared out plenty of this bottle, and the feedback was unusually poor to terrible. C: If technically proficient [as previously stated], we’re low on culinary satisfaction, and to score a whisky like this is a test of anyone’s objectivity. Enjoying it on a mountain top alongside your favourite chocolate would yield wholly different perspectives. Let’s not forget, too, just how spoilt and privileged we are.

Nose: A burst of intense, medicinal peat and cool smoke from a bonfire by the sea. A breeze, sea salt, and seaweed appear in the background. After a moment, citrus, lime, and grapefruit emerge, along with a subtle vanilla. The aroma is fresh, distinctive, and very distinctive. Palate: Peat smoke and ash dominate, accompanied by citrus freshness, peppery spiciness, and a light vanilla sweetness. Notes of salted caramel, roasted malt, and delicate licorice emerge. Finish: Long, warming, and dry. The smoke lingers, evolving into notes of ash, salt, and spices. A subtle citrus freshness lingers at the end, inviting another sip.

https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2024/09/16/plastic-oh-no-band-battle-of-the-beg/ N: Without going too list-crazy [this is a comparison review after all], I shall offer up flinty floral sweaty citrusy saltiness for starters, the peatiness a given – a bonfire-ashy-charcoal peatiness as opposed to a farmy and/or heathery peatiness. Then there’s a floral bathroom Grandma’s Pure Lye soap note [in a good way], and almonds – blanched, dried, then lightly toasted sliced. Additionally, there’s a simple [ex-bourbon] and marzipan sweetness in comparison to the more fruit-complex older Ten, a very light chicken meatiness, a little Kiwi boot polish,… Great stuff! T: Yet another ‘oh no’ soapy plasticised sample, less so with the older bottling to come. There’s an immediate bitterness [though it’s never drying], followed by salted-sour grilled lemons > limes, moules, oysters, barley juice,… all delicious. F: Overall, a simpler more straightforward whisky in comparison [to the older expression] though it remains colourful and focused with an ashy road tar bitterness whilst retaining its salivating clean barley youthful freshness. C: Whether you like Ardbeg is one thing, but objectively, there’s simply nothing out of place. Why I don’t have the Ten as a ‘permashelf’ bottling, I don’t know.

Hmm I find this much drier than usual which spoilt the effect. Too much new oak and all that.

For me, Ardbeg Ten is like that friend who's shown up at every barbecue for the past twenty years. He doesn't bring any surprises, doesn't tell new stories every time, and doesn't suddenly wear a Hawaiian shirt. But when he's there, you know: This is going to be a good evening. That is precisely his greatest strength. And at the same time, his greatest weakness. Since this year's Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength sold out in record time, I appreciate the regular Ten even more. No FOMO. No frantically searching online stores to see if it's still available. No guilt about missing the release. The regular Ten is always there. But it also lacks that certain thrill you get when you open the bottle. The Cask Strength impressively demonstrates what the Ten is truly capable of: more intensity, more depth, and even more character. Luckily, I still have two bottles on my shelf. The regular Ten, by comparison, feels like its relaxed little brother. At 46% ABV, it's more approachable and makes the smokiness surprisingly drinkable, even for beginners. Even my best man, who practically never drinks whisky, found it immediately intriguing. At Ardbeg's own warehouse tastings, the Ten is often cited as a benchmark when tasting a young Ardbeg straight from the bourbon cask. And it's easy to see why. Nevertheless, let's be realistic: the distillery's few long-aged sherry Ardbegs are, in my opinion, in a league of their own. But that's not what the Ten is about at all. For me, it's summer, barbecues, good friends, and a relaxed evening on the patio. One of those whiskies you don't have to think about. Open the bottle, pour, be happy.

Circumstances had it that I tried the Ardbegs 'out of order', first the Uigeadail and Wee Beastie before the classic 10YO. I try to be careful not to be hyped up too much by the all accolades, but that maybe in vain because I still end up reaching the same opinion. Just like anything with 'Ledaig' on the label, Ardbeg can't do anything wrong so far.

On the nose, citrus notes, reminiscent of lemon curd with a touch of ash and grapefruit. Some apple and pear. Also some lime blossom, white tea-like notes, with a subtle, light nutty hint. A light grassy green note. Maritime, slightly sweet character. Some vanilla. A touch of white wine. On the palate, sweet fruit with a salty character, slightly ashy. Medium finish. Not the most complex whisky, but certainly okay.

Aroma-Moderate；Palate-85/100; Aftertaste-Medium ；

peat, salted caramel, espresso, marshmallows and licorice and peppery, yes, tasty whisky

Amazing peat classic. Each day is good for Ardbeg 10.

Aroma: Hay, vegetal notes, pronounced minerality, citrus fruits, lemon peel, smoker-style smoke, vanilla notes, a slightly medicinal touch Taste: Clearly smoky with smoker-style smoke, plenty of citrus notes adding a pleasant sweetness, minerality, lemon peel, vanilla, a warming finish that is pleasantly spicy, smoky–citrusy, with a hint of espresso bitterness Overall Impression: A surprisingly pleasant whisky, with prominent smoky notes that remain well balanced by the citrus-driven profile, high quality for a reasonable price

Really nice whisky with both high smokiness and some sweetness

Overall well rounded and mellow, sweetness with a punch of spice and bitterness towards the end. This would, of course, benefit from a higher ABV, and less spice to allow subtleties to shine through.