Ardbeg 10 Years Cask Strength (2026)
Today's notebook entry: Ardbeg 10 Years at cask strength – something the world has been waiting for, Marcel less so. An honest bourbon cask profile that keeps the focus on the distillery's core.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Sascha notes 'paradise in a glass', Marcel counters dryly with 'forest fire' – and both capture part of the truth. It smells of grilled bacon and campfire, yet simultaneously fresh, lemony and lightly sweet. Add feta cheese, hazelnut and a mineral undertone that immediately calls Islay to mind.
Palate
On the palate it turns lemony and sugary sweet, almost like a lemon candy drop, with surprisingly little alcohol burn for nearly 62%. Sea breeze and minerality paint a picture of a campfire on a rocky shore, joined by ginger, walnuts and pineapple. This is Islay's rugged sea in its purest form – a profile you 'can't shake'.
Finish
The finish returns two or three more times, earthy and classically slightly fresh. Voluminous smoke lingers long and oily.
Thoughts
Marcel 85/100 - (Excellent)
As a registered Ardbeg sceptic, I have to admit: this departs from the 'let's release some expensive nonsense every year' approach. There's a decent dram at an acceptable price in the glass. That said, I'm simply not a fan.
Sascha 87/100 - (Excellent)
It doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's Islay enjoyment at its finest. I get that great smoky, mineral profile – except that instead of tar and rubber, a sweet lemon comes through. It's exactly that shift that makes it feel so well-rounded to me.
Value for Money: 4/5 (Good)
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the 61.7% ABV feel on the palate?
Despite 61.7%, it feels surprisingly un-alcoholic on the palate. The sweetness and lemon carry the impression, while sea breeze, minerality and smoke provide structure.
Which aromas define the nose and palate most strongly?
On the nose, grilled bacon, smoke ('forest fire'/'paradise in a glass'), freshness, lemon and a light sweetness take centre stage, complemented by feta cheese and hazelnut. On the palate, sweet lemon candy, sea breeze, minerality, ginger, walnuts and pineapple dominate.
What is the conclusion from Marcel and Sascha?
Marcel, while acknowledging it as a decent and reasonably priced release, remains not a fan at heart. Sascha sees no radical reinvention, but clear Islay enjoyment with a smoky-mineral character where sweet lemon replaces tar and rubber — a shift that makes it feel well-rounded to him.