This distillery was established 1815, however before this date the building was previously the home of a notorious gang of smugglers. Dramatically perched on the south-east coast of the island of Islay off the west coast of Scotland, surrounded by treacherous seas and battered by strong winds, this distillery sources its water from two small lochs and has produced one of the heaviest and peatiest malts likely to be encountered. Tracing its history back to 1794, the distillery closed for a few years in 1981, but happily it re-opened and is going strong once more Typically most whiskies are chill-filtered and reduced to a strength of 40% abv. Ardbeg Ten Years Old, however, is non chill-filtered and has a strength of 46% abv which retains maximum flavour and gives more body and added depth. This core expression was launched in 2000. The aroma is a seductive mix of toffee and chocolate sweetness, cinnamon spice and medicinal phenols. The mouth feel at first is lightly astringent, then chewing, mouthwatering, full and finally dry. A smoky sweetness is then left on the palate, with a crushed peat and sweet malted cereal character £4.75
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