If you're a fan of the Islay malts I'm sure your intrigued by the constant battle to be the biggest, peatiest, nastiest malt. Ardbeg has been extensively and expensively restored but, lacking they're old fanless malting facilities, seem to be going for the 'we're more subtle than our neighbours' approach. They're probably right, but if it's subtlety you're after you're in very much the wrong place. It's a bit like paying a dominatrix and then asking her to be gentle.

As a lover of Lagavulin and Laphroaig I was really looking forward to trying this 10 year old Ardbeg. It seems to have everything a good Islay malt should have, but I couldn't help being a little dissapointed. Maybee these peaty malts are more suited to cold winter nights by the fire rather than summer evenings on the patio, but I can't help feeling that this Ardbeg lacks a little bit of magic.