Ardbeg – 10 Year Old (70cl, 46%)

Ardbeg Ten Years Old is the 10-year-old expression from the Islay distillery, which was founded in 1815. It was launched in 2000 and is bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. It matures in first-fill and second-fill ex-bourbon casks of American oak, and it is not chill-filtered, which preserves its flavour and gives more body and depth. The colour is a light, pale gold. The nose opens with a burst of peat, then lemons and limes coated in dark chocolate, leading to menthol and black pepper. The palate brings lime juice, black pepper and cinnamon caramel, rounded by creamy buttermilk, ripe banana and blackcurrant.