Ardbeg 10 Years 70cl. - Case

PREPARATION

Ardbeg 10 Years is made from the smokiest malt on the market. The water used to produce Ardbeg comes from Lake Uigeadail, 3 miles up the hill behind the distillery. The fermentation time at Ardbeg is longer than at other distilleries due to the high phenolic content of the original malt. Two distillations are necessary to achieve the required strength and the desired pure alcohol. Only first and second filling barrels are used during maturation. All of the new first fill Bourbon casks come from suppliers in the US, while other casks come from Speyside Cooperage and Craigellachie. Because Ardbeg ages very close to the sea, the whiskey takes on a certain salty, iodized character as it matures for 10 years. The Ardbeg Distillery, located on the south coast of the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, is owned by Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy and produces the peat-dominated Islay whiskey typical of Islay.

TASTING

View: Golden color.

Nose: Burst of intense peat-smoked fruit infused with lemon and lime, wrapped in waxy dark chocolate. Menthol and black pepper mix with the smoky aromas, followed by tarry and graphite notes. Salty aromas appear (fish, bacon) with hints of green pepper, baked pineapple and pear.

Mouth: A crackling peat explosion that unleashes millions of flavor explosions: effervescent peat with zesty lemon and lime juice, black pepper with cinnamon-spiced topho. A wave of brine follows with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas and currants. The smoky notes gradually build up on the palate bringing a bite of warm, creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. As the flavor lengthens and deepens, coffee, licorice root and tarry smoke appear, coating the palate with very present peat oils. The finish is long and smoky, with notes of coffee, anise, toasted almonds and traces of soft barley and fresh pear.