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Still probably the best Ardbeg under the £100 mark but there are much better malts out there for the money. The profile is boring and unrewarding for me, the nose is the best thing about it.

Surprising whisky, already in the nose, betrays more than just peat / smoke, and that fruity undertone is also evident around the corner, and gives this whisky a very pleasant turn. Versatile peated whisky!

[March, 2017]  Another Ardbeg re-taste:  When the new TEN was released I found it a very good, easy-to-drink dram (that by no means is comparable to the 10-years old guaranteed from the seventies or eighties, but nevertheless very nice in its new profile).  And I scored it with 88 points (significantly better than an average dram). Today I tried a recent bottling of the TEN and - what a disappointment:  It is rather weakish and with a drying-bitter finish.  I guess Ardbeg uses partly virgin oak casks in this recipe and these heavy tannins harm not just the balance but the mouthfeel too. This is most probably due to the problem that LVHM has difficulties in sourcing enough bourbon casks from the US.  The Scotch whisky boom came at a time when the US whisky industry was in deep recession - so the Scotch demand for used bourbon casks was and still is much higher than the US distilleries can supply. As a consequence the Scottish distilleries cut down the maturation times to use the same cask more often (and masked this by introducing NAS whiskies) AND (as this was not sufficient enough) they had to use virgin oak casks in addition.  For sure they market this as an intentional strategy, but it is pure despair in the end.  What can do you if you do not have enough good quality casks at your hands? The outcome is devastating (at least to my taste buds), but hopefully they create a new followership among all the new whisky aficionados that do not know how excellent Ardbeg and all the other great drams once tasted (before the boom)...

This is really a BFYB (Bang For Your Buck) ... Had never tasted an Ardbeg, but now I regret that it took so long. Topper of a whisky!

Ardbeg is currently very much advertised here. I took a sip yesterday evening. He smells very intense of smoke, but also fruity, spicy. His 46% have it in me, drive the spit in my mouth. Everything is very warm, comforting, creamy, smoky ... Wow!

A big classic and favorite. But the sherry line is better for the Ardbeg I think.

[Newer Edition] Light, straw color. Oily structure.

Whoo hoo, I'm the one thousandth reviewer of the Ardbeg Ten, what do i win? ………….Bah I've always enjoyed Ardbeg whisky but i don't mind admitting that i give Ardbeg a hard time. I naturally support the underdog, maybe its because I'm british, who knows? - I'm not a sociologist, actually thats not true but thats another story. To me Ardbeg, like Macallan is like Manchester United of the Whisky world, with fans all over the globe waving the Ardbeg committee flag with an insatiable appetite for its success, and i reckon its big enough to handle some scrutiny from little me. So its a great testament to the distillery that i find myself trying to be disappointed with Ardbeg and continually failing. Visiting the Ardbeg distillery for example was a highlight of my Islay tour. I arrrived for a standard 'range' tasting at the distillery one afternoon with very little expectation - to be told that they cancelled the tour because i was the only one who turned up.  A combination of guilt on their part and persuasion [or charm as i like to believe] on my part, resulted in me receiving a personalised and bespoke tour which led to trying some 70's specials from the managers desk draw. I was impressed with what i tried. The least i could do was buy an Ardbeg 10 as I hadn't had one in a while.  The week i opened the bottle i'd sampled some superb drams - some Port Ellen's, 70's Bunna's, vintage Glendronach's and some rare bourbons… so i was still not in the mood to entertain the 'Ten'. The bottle had gone down half way before i realised that i was liking, no - loving this whisky. It was performing better every day, opening out and revealing more and more. Below are my ongoing tasting notes for the impressive standard Ardbeg release: N: Creamy, cheesy, salty, oily, fruity, peat. Kumquats, raisins, cherries, honey on light toast. Vanillas, incense, seaweed, wood sap, soap, lemon drizzle cake, dried apricots, peaches, ripe pineapples. The peat comes in and out in waves. Later becoming yeasty and meaty in the glass. T: Smoke, peat, pepper with a hin and oily in body then some dark rich fruits, fermented quince jam with more smoke and peat coming through building up in layers. Tarred beach wood. Later toffee comes through, rosemary, aniseed…. Later, the arrival is much more buttery with a thicker honeyed salivating body. The smoke is ever present. F: Salty and bitter/sweet, peppery and rather drying. A salivating burst of medicinal cherry cough sweets flow through with a touch of iodine freshness and darjeeling tea to compliment the encompassing charcoal smoke. C: Love it or loath it, this is a very fine whisky.  Personally i'm loving it. Scores a B+

Nose:- Strong aroma of sugar cane enveloping the gentle iodine smokiness. Profound but delicate. Palate:- Obvious herbs characters on waves of burnt caramel, savoury popcorn. Excellently balanced. Finish:- Spicy at first but still mild and gentle on palate. Minty and refreshing. Short-medium length. — at The Whisky Bar, Kuala Lumpur.

This whisky originally brought me to whisky and I'm still fond of countless other taste experiences today. The simple combination of great smoke and the classic Ardbegsüße! A dream...

Top Ten Ardbeg Ten... well, that hardly needs any kind of introduction, of course. It is a standard whisky, but of such good reputation that it belongs in each and every whisky cabinet. I have tried several batches and they are all - in my opinion - very close. So hat's off to the master blender, in casu Dr Bill Lumsden. Today I will try a Ten that was bottled on 17th November 2015. Classic Ardbeg nose with some lime, apples and vanilla that are soon joined by the typical maritime elements such as brine, peat smoke and something that reminds me of gasoline. Some burnt wood and even some smoked ham in the background make this nose a joy for the lovers of this type of Ileach. The peat rears its head from the very first sip. And while this Ardbeg remains sweet and creamy it's that salty edge and those notes of peat that give this it's complexity. Lots of mineral elements as well. It's like having gravel in your mouth, so to speak. I quite like this. That mineral side is extra powerful in the long and warm finish. Yes, Ardbeg Ten remains a top dram. Bull's eye every time. Thanks for the sample, Pat!

A very, very good entry level whisky. And fairly priced as well. That's a great combination in my book.

71-80 – Fine, like to drink by time

Has something I do not like and can not identify, this Ardbeg-Nebengeschmack is simply not at all

Aroma Smoke, maritime, a little sweet, vanilla taste Campfire smoke, maritime, sweet, little salt, citrus Medium-length finish, maritime

Still a goal reference, albeit a bit easier, in my opinion. Peat, a light sweetness, some citrus, but delicious.

oily peat and yellow fruits!

Blind Parallel tasting of sample # 1 and sample # 2 in comparison Nose: # 1 - spicy smoke, pepper and spice cloves in campfire smoke, some lemongrass and vanilla, an overwhelming lemon sweet sweetened by spicy oak notes and smoky aromas # 2 - grassy and maritime, both the sweetness and the acidity of lemon, a pinch of salt and aromatic smoke. In addition, menthol fresh from the alcohol and a hint of caramel and vanilla. Taste: # 1 - strong spicy onset with plenty of pepper and smoke, the alcohol is now more present than in the nose, to the back then sweeter flavors (caramel, Zironensorbet) paired with warm ash. This ash note combined with some salt water and the now slightly drier sweetness accompanies you through the medium-long finish. # 2 - smoother and smoother with a hint of aromatic smoke and vanilla pudding with a splash of lemon juice, the finish being longer than # 1 adds a peppery oak and a good dose of wood with the warm smoke and maritime touch now add malty sweetness. Great taste - that's how an Islay Malt must taste. I liked the # 1 in the nose a little better with the flavor of the # 2 convince more with its power and fullness in the finish. The # 1 does have a bunch of flavors but they are not so interwoven and there was a lack of depth / substance. # 2 looks more mature and deeper, but also a bit simpler in the fullness of the aromas. But sometimes that's exactly what makes a good Islay smoker. Both are still quite young and without the smoke bonus would probably be a simple highlander for the Blend industry. Therefore, the 80+ pts are already a very good rating. Blind I give the # 1 good 80 pts . and the # 2 gets 84 pts. Both are good and fun but I would prefer # 2 when buying a bottle. Resolution (even sealed in the envelope - so just travel ^^) # 1 = Ardbeg An Oa 46.6% # 2 = Ardbeg Ten (the current Warehouse Edition) 46% Ah interesting comparison - the An Oa is definitely delicious and better than the counterparts of Laphroaig (Select) and Talisker (Skye) but also a bit more expensive than this one. Yes, it's different than the TEN (looks more like a mix of Corry and Ugi diluted down to TEN level) but as long as there are the three classics I would not see any reason to buy this whisky. But whoever bought it certainly did not do anything wrong. He is delicious. I have not had the TEN in the glass for a long time and so with a little bit of distance, you realize once again what a great drop that is and is rightly considered a classic!

Outstanding, this is almost as good as it gets, and still a great bargain.

A magnificent young smoky mole, coarse and assertive, simple, but bright and full.

Yes! If Ardbeg, then this one. You get a darn good rich and peaty Islay whisky plus sweet pine needles as the trademark aroma. All you sometimes need, to be honest. It might have lost its intensity a little over the years, but the TEN is still a no-frills-yet-affordable standard.

When I inhale a glass of Ardbeg Ten, I always feel like I've been punched in the face. 54 ppm. Yes, it's violent, it's well-smoked peat that explodes in your face, pure peat with very few nuances, but very round. By insisting, all the complexity is revealed, we smell oil, salt, wet grass, earth, spices, caramel, blood oranges, and a hint of ginger. All in perfect balance. Alcohol competes and confuses the cards, it abuses our senses, it is not an easy drink, it is a furious and runaway horse. The rodeo continues on the palate, with all the pepper and spices pouring in, it's earthy, nicely salty, slightly caramelized, intense, with a hint of citrus on the finish, perhaps clementine. What an explosion when swallowing! We are as if immersed in the earth, the caramel and citrus fruits emerge. It's very long and oily in the mouth, the malt clings to the palate and leaves echoes of smoke. We come away feeling stunned. A blast of powerful and vegetal peat accompanied by a hint of citrus. https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2020/04/ardbeg-ten-46-original-bottling-core.html

Aroma: Smoky, tar, ink, liquorice, oriental spices bazaar Taste: full, engaging, strong, intense, warm, malty-sweet, prickles on the tongue finish: Very long spicy finish, smoky, potato chips with smoked bacon / ham, sweetish-salty on the palate, cigar smoke. * slightly fruity and softer with water.

For peat-lovers, Ardbeg 10yo is probably the highest-quality `entry-level` single malt on the market, and the distillery many Islay connoisseurs would choose as their favourite. A whirlwind of peat and complex malty flavours, this is an exuberant, in-your-face whisky to be cherished. Whisky Bible Awards 2012: Best Single Malt Scotch of the Year, 10 Years and Under

A good single malt whisky, never a disappointment. I have to review the points I gave this whisky 7 months ago.

A delicious smoky standard. You should definitely have tried it. Would say a big bottle is worth it.

Aroma: Very peaty malt, cereals, yeast, toffee and chocolate, phenols, smoky, cigar box, tomato plant. Taste: very large, very peaty, rich, medicinal, citrus, bitter orange marmalade, coffee, licorice. Aftertaste: very persistent, smoked malt, ends with taste.

It always works, the standard 10 islay representative. With a nice range of spices and lots of smoke in the campfire. Also sweet and tart at the same time. I always have my BBQ sauces with me

For me one of the best young standard malts available.

Reference whisky, despite the fact that this is the initial sample in the line. One of my favorite molts.

S 8.5 Final dram in the bottle. It has oxidised well in the bottle. Now I’ve built a habit to do H2H with The Ten whenever Ardbeg drops a new limited release. I recommend you do the same, you’ll be surprised how much you’d save from fomo. 81-85 - Nice, I can drink more of this