Ardbeg
changed their distillation regime in May 1998, and the new Ardbeg 10 was first
bottle the summer of 2008. Back in 2011 I compared an old Ardbeg 10 from 2006
(L6 150 4:50 p.m. 4ML) to the new Ardbeg 10 from 2009 (L9 203 1:49
p.m. 6ML). Both whiskies were 46% abv. and non chill filtered.
According
to my notes, the aroma and taste were quite similar, but there were
differences. The difference in colour was close to zero. Both had sweetness and
citrus on the nose, but they were not directly fruity. The old had a touch of
peach, honey, toffee and acetone, while the new one was somewhat lighter and
fruitier with a flowery touch. Vanilla was also more prominent in the new. The
new developed to a greater extent from a sweet to a bitter and astringent
mouthfeel. The old was more full-bodied, and appeared immediately smoother. Nevertheless,
the new one had the smoothest mouthfeel.
Both
whiskies had the characteristic Ardbeg creosote, sea, salt, pepper and smoke,
even though the new one was more pronounced in all these areas. I finished
asking if these are to completely different whiskies. The answer was no, and a
statement that it would probably be possible to taste the difference even when
you taste one by one, but if you don’t think about it, they would probably be
taken for the same whisky.
Last week,
I had the opportunity to compare a 2006 version against a 2015 version. I was
in for a big surprise. I did not expect to find a big difference. The Ardbeg 10
year old is still 46% abv. and non chill filtered, but then come the
differences.
The 2015
version was much paler than the 2006 version. Since no colour is added, a sign
of younger whiskies.
The 2015
had a much more rubbery and smoky character than the old one which had much
more of the Ardbegian creosote character. The new one seemed crisper, spicier
and with a hint of crème brûlée, while the old one was the smoothest. Overall,
I like the 2006 version much better than the 2015 version.
