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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 26 ก.ย. 2024
- Here are a bunch of peated 10-year-old whiskies. Some heavily peated, some lightly. I'll be ranking them today. Cheers!
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0-75 - Crap
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80-82 - Not bad
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90-94 - Awesome
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In case you were wondering, the list is:
10. Ballechin 10
9. Bowmore 10
8. Laphroig 10
7. Benriach Smoky 10
6. Benromach 10
5. Ardbeg 10
4. Talisker 10
3. Ledaig 10
2. Port Charlotte Heavily Peated 10
1. Springbank 10
I've tried the Laphroig, Ardbeg, Talisker, and Port Charlotte, and there are no losers there. I would have rated the Laphroig a bit higher.
Springbank is the whisky that I judge all others against, simply amazing!
Sadly it's becoming a unicorn whisky in the majority of whisky markets these days.
Great list!!! And love the approach of top 10 10 years in 10 minutes. Love the Springbank 10; but whenever I drink it the thought of knowing a replacement bottle will be $20 more than the last takes away from the experience. PC10 is probably a better dram for me these days because it doesn’t come with Springbank Inflation Anxiety. SIA is a serious affliction that needs to be addressed!
SIA -:) I have that too. Maybe we should start a self help group.
Agree. Very annoying. I hope something's being done about it at the brand. 🥃
At least you can get a replacement. I've never tasted it and likely never to taste it, unless I leave my home state. It is not sold anywhere in the state. It never has been, so far as I can tell. To get a Campbeltown whiskey in this state, one has to purchase a bottle of Glen Scotia, which I have done. But it certainly does not live up to the howls I've heard about Springbank's offerings....**sigh**
Wait...wait...I found a place that sells it by the dram. Ouch.
Glen Scotia 10 Peated is a good one to.
Sounds interesting. Never tried it! 🥃
Kudos on you remarks re the management of Springbank!!
Ah peat!!! This list is very welcomed! I mainly have cask strength peat and haven't tried all of these but it's such an important part of the journey. They don't need to be expensive because they don't need to be old and there is nice variety.
I don't get any in Springbank10, pure citrus and malt in my bottle, but that's ok.
The Ardbeg10 I think is still #1 on paper. I can still find it under $50. Haven't opened a bottle in over a year, but with 2 on deck I'm ready for the showdown.
The first self imposed rule of my malt collection was "never buy Laph10 43% again". Only drank half the bottle and gassed it.
Laph10 was truly the mind expanding experience at a bar that got me into peat. As long as I can find cask strength bottles every year for half the price of Ardbeg releases I will stay on team Cairdeas.
I have an old BenRiach 10 Curiositas that is very funky and to weird for me. After a few months it opened up nicely but I can only hope the new Smokey 10 or 12 are totally different.
Talisker is, dare I say the quintessential scotch. I'm still hoping to find an off note so I can stop thinking that. I was just gifted a Dark Storm so we'll see about that.
I think the Benromach Peat Smoke, NAS is as Islay as anything but the lightly peated malt is certainly a great dram. Which is good because I'm not sure if I'm going to chase peat so much anymore.
I kinda think most scotch is dried with some peat and that's enough. "Islay" levels of phenols are great but to appreciate the nuances I really need to focus my attention and it's just more relaxing to sip on an Arran or Ancnoc. BUT......if I'm pouring the Curiositas now, only for academic reasons, who knows what the next pour will be?
And, it goes without saying that I'm buying any independent Ledaig I see. They are doing something very good on Mull. The 2 bottles of 10 year are in my bug-out bag so they'll be with me when the world collapses.
Man I really hope the Ardbeg 10 delivers. It was easily one of my favourite go-to's back in the day. The more recent versions of it aren't nearly as good imo. I much prefer the 5 these days. Hopefully that won't be the case for you.
Agree that the peat in Springbank is minimal. I do detect it, but it's very light. Benromach is also only very lightly peated. I realized going into this list that once you limit your options to standard released 10-year-olds at standard bottling strenght, we don't actually have a lot of great 10s available to us! The Ballechin at no. 10 isn't something I enjoyed, but I was struggling to fill out the back end of the list at all. I did omit the Old Ballantruan 10, which definitely should have been included here.
Like you, peated whiskies aren't my go-to these days. But when I'm in the mood, man do they hit right. Sipping on some PC10 tonight. Cheers buddy! 🥃
@@Gwhisky wee Beastie and Lag 8 👍.
Another one that will be good with a future age statement is Glenglassaugh Torfa. Very cool highland peat.
Erik Wait's recent videos on independent peat got me thinking about how crazy it is to have this many choices. I wouldn't spend to much on a mystery malt so I'm amazed that people would spend hard earned cash on a rebranded unnamed NAS Caol Ila
No way I'm paying $100 (US) a bottle for Springbank 10 year old. Price definitely has to be a consideration in the scoring as it's typically one of the main considerations why you grab a 10 year old in the first place. The Springbank 12 cask strength 12 year old and the 15 year old were $100 two years ago which was the last time I grabbed some Springbank. Since then, the prices have gotten ridiculous. Port Charlotte 10 has held steady the whole time (knock on wood 🤞) at $60. Ledaig has risen from $50 to $60, Laphroaig was on sale a lot a few years ago in the low $40s but now is $65 and Ardbeg has gone from $45-50 to $60-65. Benromach I just got on sale for $40 (regularly $55- older bottling getting cleared out it seems), and Benriach peated is regularly $60 though the last bottle I got for $50 at Costco but that was a temporary offering as is typical of Costco. Also, I actually preferred the predecessor, Benriach Curiositas 10, to the current peated 10. Ballechin is very difficult to find and quite pricey as well (and I havent seen any really positive reviews of it! I guess it's just the general Edradour popularity driving demand). Bowmore 10 doesn't even exist here in the US as far as I know. Even if it was just an entry level rating, the Bowmore 12 which we do have would be near the bottom due to it's rather high price and low integrity (40%, chill filtered and colored). As an aside, I found a couple of 200 ml sampler packs that are surprisingly better priced than current prices of the regular bottlings. One pack has Caol Ila 12, Talisker 10 and Clynelish 14 and the other pack has Lagavulin 16, Talisker 10 and Cragganmore 12. Both for $50. Talisker 10 goes for $70 here.
My top 10 might then be:
1) Port Charlotte 10
2) Ledaig 10
3) Ardbeg 10
4) Talisker 10
5) Laphroaig 10
6) Benriach Peated 10
7) Benromach 10
8) Springbank 10 (could be top 3 if price and availability were much better - but I can get so much better for 100 bucks!)
9) Ballachen 10 (to be honest I haven't had this One but again price and availability are poor and reviews have not been impressive).
10) Bowmore 10 not available here.
If talking entry level peatedofferings rather than just 10 year olds, Lagavulin 8 year old would be top 5 or better as might be Caol Ila 12.
That's the end of my peated 10 life story. LOL
Interesting to hear the prices in your neck of the woods. Of course whisky is getting more expensive across the board, but they're going up at different rates in different markets. Your list of ascending prices would look quite different from mine in Taiwan.
Btw, I agree that the old Benriach 10 peated was better! And yes, the list would certainly look VERY different if I weren't limited to 10 year olds at their regular bottling strength. Cheers buddy and thanks for sharing your local rates! Informative!🥃
I forgot to add that Laphroaig 10 is bottled at 43% for the US market. Still not great but better than 40%. Otherwise , like you, I would've scored it much lower. As several have mentioned, if it were the cask strength, it'd be at the top.
Price of Springbank 10 here in "rip off" Ireland is 60 yoyos.. Port Charlotte n Ardbeg 10 is much more over the odds.. Its happenstance in yer neck of the woods that yer getting the bullet... Life not always bein fair square in Eyre Square nor fantastique in Mozambique...
Xia, I 💯 agree with your comments about Springbank and your list. PC 10 kills SB 10 anyway.
Love that you picked Talisker & Ardbeg & Laphroaig- three of my favs as well! most of your other picks have not tried, BUT WILL NOW, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME- one of you scotch gurus picked three of me in top 10. So, heaven help me I found one of ya with my palate!!! BOOHRAH
OOOOOOHHHHH!! Sorry just doing a bad Joe Rogan impression. This list is great and I enjoyed the explanation as well as the placements. I may have to pick up a Ledaig 10.
You won't be disappointed! (Hopefully 😉) 🥃
Just got into Whiskey... Found your channel after I got home from buying my first whiskey (Ledaig 10). Glad I picked one in your Top 3 & I'm rating what I've heard & smelt from the Port Charlotte 10 too, so that'll be my next drop. Great Channel you have here man, keep up the great work!
Thanks so much, m'Lord! Appreciate the viewership! 🥃
Agree, great list. Can’t wait to try!
Thank you, Wayne! 🥃
For anyone who don't care for Springbank 10.. Stick to the sasparillas.. Babycham... Baileys n Ice.. Its a jewel in the crown of Scotch.. In my self righteous humble opinion... Yappety Yap..
Springbank 10 is off rank because it is off sale. 🤷♂️
@@peatbull3426.. When and if it comes on tap.. Get in there quick.. If yer not fast.. Yer last..
A list to refer to before the next purchase! Great for us without experience.
Appreciate you watching Greg! Enjoy the journey! 🥃
I would go:
1) Ardbeg 10
2) Benriach 10 Smoky
3) Talisker 10
4) Ledaig 10
5) Port Charlotte 10
6) Old Ballantruan 10
7) Benromach 10
8) Laphroaig 10
9) Springbank 10
10) Ballechin 10
(11) Benriach 10 Curiositas)
Springbank 10 is 9th because I am generally not a fan of sherry casks. Otherwise I do understand, why people like it.
An interesting order of choices. Thanks for sharing Lukas!
Springbaaaaaaaaank! The 2020 10 y.o. is SUCH a banger.Still popping up here and there in NY. Cheers my dude.
Count yourself lucky, it's harder and harder to find in Taiwan. I've heard the 2020 is amazing. Cheers buddy! 🥃
@@Gwhisky im not sure its true but heard the most of Springbank production is made for US market. In UK its sold out or Not in sale. Just auction or privet seller at shocking prices. 🤷♂️
@@peatbull3426 I think most markets got their alotted amount of SB10, but Americans have been buying it less feverishly. They're probably also allotted a lot of stock, which can't go anywhere else because of the 750 ml American bottle size as opposed to the 700 ml bottles the rest of the world gets. Dunno. Just a theory. But yes, I hear SB is pretty easy to come by in places like California.
Nice and fun review Geoff. I can't argue with the top three as they would be my top three as well! I also agree that they are all very close to each other in terms of quality and my order of these could change depending on mood. If I had to pick one 'desert island whisky' out of the three, it would have to be the Springer, so I guess that's my number one too. So, yeah we basically agree on everything here 🤣
We're men of culture, Simon! 😉🥃
Great list buddy with some amazing whiskies. The PC 10 is stand alone for me. Absolutely fantastic and can be picked up on offer at £35ish in the UK. Cheers
Wow! A lot of my American audience complains that it's overpriced. Even here in Taiwan, it's the most expensive of the bunch. £35 is a great price for a great whisky! Cheers buddy! 🥃
Where exactly Jeff at this price??? I checked Amazon just yesterday and was wee sale at £48. 🙋♂️
@@peatbull3426 It was a "Bezos finest" on Black Friday tied in with Sub & Save. I may have just been lucky but seen it about at similar price since. Think Master of Malt done a flash sale with it not too long back. Good luck on your hunt!
Hi Geoff, awesome video and list💪👍. Laphraiog 10 was my first peated malt and your right about it being too thin but still not a bad dram. Thought your Nr 1 was going to be port charlete 10 though. Ledaig 10, Ardbeg 10 and now port charlete 10 I always have in my stash, all for me are good quality and good priced bottles. I must say though although it’s now discontinued the Bowmore tempest ( first fill bourbon barrels and CS natural colour and non chill filtered)10 yr old batch 6 was a very good Bowmore, typical Bowmore light peat and very tropical . Another good ,enjoyable thought though video Geoff 👍slàinte . PS now in the mood for a port charlete 10, that’s my dram for this evening.
Thanks David. I agree that the Tempest was one of Bowmore's better options. Unfortunately that was a limited release CS and not part of their standard line. It certainly would have been included otherwise! I'm fact, if cask strength whiskies were included this list would look pretty different! 😉
Funnily enough, it's Sunday evening here and I'm thinking to pour a Dram of PC10 mysel. You've inspired me! Cheers buddy! 🥃
Great idea for the video! Not surprisingly my list isn't too different to yours. For my top 5 I would go 5. Benromach 10 4. Ardbeg 10 3. Ledaig 10 2. Springbank 10 1. Port Charlotte 10. Cheers Geoff
Great minds think alike! Cheers Ramiz! 🥃
Love a ranking. The 10 year bracket is a murderers row and agree with the Laphroaig 10 not being in the top 5. It was my gateway whisky and a couple of years ago I would have disagreed but had it recently and it shocked me how watery it is. Agree on Springbank at 1 although I still love Ardbeg 10 for that spot occasionally. I love Talisker profile. I do like PC as a potential future no. 1 but the price is the thing that holds it back a little. I don’t always feel I get bang for my buck with BLaddich. Not had Ledaig in a couple of years and keen to try it again see where it’s at.
Yeah the Laphroaig flavours would have it much higher on this list if it were naturally presented at 46%. PC is a bit pricey, but it's got some more elaborate cask play as well as the highest abv on this list. Also, I'm a sucker for the PC profile these days, although I haven't always loved them. Unpeated Bruichladdich is another story, though...
5. Talisker 10
4. Kilchomen Sanaig
3 Ardbeg 10
2. Lagavulin 16
1. PC 10
It's a shame that we can't find 10 good peated 10 year olds.
True. The back end of the list was scraping the bottom of the barrel, so to speak! 🥃
Aussie Canuck- great list. Do your top 18 yo’s. Would be great
Just found your channel via First Phil. Great list!
The Laph 10 sherry is really good one of my personal favorites. At 48% I think it has much more character than the standard release Laph bottles
Absolutely beautiful whisky. This list was made before I got the chance to try it. It definitely deserves a spot here. Cheers! 🥃
Nice options never seen .Good effort
Thanks Ganesan! 🥃
Great list Geoff! Like many other whisky tragics out there, I have still not yet been able to get a hold of a Springbank, but have the others in the list. PC is solid at #2!
Top peated 10s for me (of the non-cask-strength core-range, age-stated OBs): 1. Springbank, 2. Ledaig, 3. Talisker, 4. Port Charlotte, 5. Ardbeg, 6. Laphroaig (43% version), 7. Highland Park. Love them all, though (1 and 2 are neck-and-neck, as are 3-6). I haven't tried the other 10s on your list yet, though.
Solid picks JP!
Worth mentioning that there is a peated Benromach NAS "peat smoke" edition - for those who want more prominent flavours of burning turf. ;)
I'd love to try that one. Wasn't a contender here as I was focusing on 10-year-olds, but I have heard good things about that one. Appreciate the suggestion Declan! 🥃
How peaty is the NAS Peat Smoke? Caol Ila 12 level? Laga 8? Sonething more?
Springbank 10 is a fantastic choice - not easy to find, but it does pop up. Very unique, with more flavor complexity than just peat smoke. I’m not big on one-dimensional smoke bombs. Killerkerran 12 is another great Campbelltown option.
Well I tried to limit this list to 10 year olds. Otherwise, the Kilkerran would have been an option. Shame that the SB10 is getting harder to find. Cheers Ren! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Of course. Not knocking your choice of 10 years, just throwing out an alternative to S10. Cheers!
@@aguy1075 I know! Appreciate it buddy!
I’ve only had half of these and my favourites in order are
1) Port Charlotte
2) Ledaig
3) Talisker
4) Ardbeg
5) Laphroaig
I thought the Ballechin 10 Cask Strength was very good though (I’d put it above the Ledaig 10 in fact). And like so many people, I haven’t been able to find Springbank 10 anywhere 👎.
I've had a sherried Ballechin cs that was delicious. In fact I'm a fan of the brand, just not their standard 10 year old. Good list! 🥃
I was really disappointed in the springbank 10, I am not a fan of oak bitterness and it was way too present for me (granted that's an unusual issue) much prefer the longrow NAS.
I'd highly recommend the Old Ballantruan 10 if you can get it, it's a peated Speyside who bottle at 50% and its my favourite whisky of any kind from the region
You know I totally forgot about Old Ballantruan while making this list... it would definitely be on it! 🥃
Great review Geoff, you seem to get a better quality of scotch than i can. I Live in spain. Well don buddy
Yeah Taiwan is a wonderful place for affordable and available whisky. Cheers and gracias for watching Steven! 🥃
Great video , got some new ones to go check out now. Keep up the good work
Cheers Garryn. Thanks for watching! 🥃
Not even surprised by No.1
Difficult to get ahold of Springbank 10 here in 🇨🇦. My top 3 would have to be 1. Talisker 10, 2. LEDAIG 10 & Benromach 10.
All great picks! The Springbank 10 is getting hard to find pretty much everywhere. Shame as it was widely available and affordable not too long ago in a lot of markets. Cheers! 🇨🇦
Great comments. Great suggestions. Great presentation. I need to get to it. Cool.
Thanks man! 💪
I agree with N1 port charlitte is the best period. I would rank laphroiag higher imo they rule supreme in the sub 40€ price range.
Mine:
10. Ballechin
9. Benriach
8. Benromach
7. Laphroig
6. Springbank
5. Bowmore
4. Talisker
3. Port Charlotte
2. Ledaig
1. Ardbeg
Great list, Geoff😀 The top 3 are exactly my favorites too.
I haven't tasted the regular Talisker 10 yet but if you replace it with the Distillers Edition which is also 10 yo (kinda) then you will have my top 5 peated 10 yo malts😀
Out of the the 10 to 6 positions I have tasted only Benromach 10. Nice one. If only it was 46% then it would have reserved a spot in the top 5.
Cheers!
Thanks for watching, buddy! The Talisker DE is a good one! The Benromach 10 is fantastic, but as you said a bit weak at 43%. If it were non-chill filtered and 46%, it might have even nudged the Ardbeg 10 out of the 5th place. I love(d) Ardbeg, but that 10 just ain't what it used to be. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky That's what I'm saying too the ardbeg 10 was better years ago now (am 32 now but like 10 years ago the ardbeg 10 tasted better or am I going crazy?l
@@Kvs-vf9nt I absolutely agree! Might have tipped this list back then! 🥃
Out of these 10 Peated, Scotches, I've only had FOUR! 😮
It has been a very long time, as well, since I've had any of the four & I'd prefer IF I had them all, at the same time & to be able to rank them fairly, side-by-side:
I think it would be safe to say that First would be Ledaig 10... but could be a toss up & possibly tied with Port Charlotte 10...
I WANT to say that Ardbeg 10 would be in Third place...but again... Number 3 & 4 could also be a toss up- with Springbank 10
I'll just rank them this way- from Memory:
I) Ledaig
II) Port Charlotte
III) Ardbeg
IV) Springbank...
Subject to change 😉😮😍
Great video & thank YOU for making it!
Slàinte Mhaith from Western Canada & The Prairies = Alberta 🥃 🤠 🇨🇦
Hah it's always tricky when we're going off of memory. Good ranking, though! Cheers from Taiwan! 🥃
@Gwhisky I absolutely love Ardbeg 10- always a winner- but I'm quite certain I've compared it to both the Ledaig 10 & PC 10 & they both beat it. I also believe I've compared Ledaig & PC together & Ledaig winner- via because of the price... the PC DID have more flavour, but it came down to price: price beat out flavour
PC10 and ledaig would also be my top choices. I’m lucky to still have a Springbank 10 around from last year, but wouldn’t have put it in a peated list given how minimally peated or atleast how subtle the peat is in it - but I know they keep changing it up each batch, so maybe some are more heavily peated than the one I have. Either way, love your lists, keep them coming! Also which benromach would you recommend getting?
Benromach CS is the fan favourite. I'd recommend that one first because it's such a people pleaser. The 15 is my personal favourite, but it's much softer and only comes in at 43%. Cheers! 🥃
Love their CS stuff. Their Contrasts: Cara Gold & Contrasts: Organic are also worthwhile.
I can't get the CS without special ordering it online with all the extra expense and patience testing that involves. I'm very happy with the 15, so much so I'm reluctant to try the 21, for fear I'd be spending too much on something where I'd already hit the sweet spot in my palate at 15.
I agree, the peat in springbank 10 is hardly noticeable. Still delicious though. But kilkerran 12 beats it (in my opinion). 😊
Thank you for letting me know that it is not heavily peated. I would be disappointed.
Great lineup as alway's Geoff ... The springbank is hard to get in New Zealand.
It's pretty hard to get in a lot of places, sadly...
Lediag and Spring bank and Ardbeg are all I sip.
Grat review and amazing advices. I started with peated wiskeys and I will try those ones recommended. Grat job. Thank you
Thanks for watching Jupiter!
Definitely agree on the PC10 and Ledaig 10, and I guess I need to get off my ass and go get a Talisker 10. It’s been forever since I had that, and I’ve just been limping along with Talisker 18, which yeah, is really good, but I just need the Tal 10 around too. Great review - enjoyed it!
Hah the Tal 18 eh? What are whisky! 🥃
Can't argue with Springbank. It really is as good as people say, as long as you appreciate the oiliness. I often think of it as a better Highland Park 12 - more intense, complicated and better mouth feel. When my local liquor store received their yearly Springbank 10 shipment, I bought one bottle and left the rest for others to enjoy. I went back the next week and they still had three bottles, so I figured that was a good time to purchase a back up. I'm afraid it will break three figures next year.
It's already broken that much here, which is incredibly frustrating. Luckily Kilkerran is still around at a better price. That'll be my Campbeltown go-to moving forward. 🥃
@@Gwhisky Kilkerran is a good choice too. Runs 10 bones less than Springbank around my parts
I agree with you on this peated scotch list but I was in shock to know the number 1 for you is way less peated/smoky of the other 9 ones Lol, . I like spring bank 10 when I am in the mood for it I am not thinking of my lovely peated ones but just a unique one. Great review Geoff
Thanks buddy. I was pretty upfront at the start of the video that not everything here would be "heavily peated". Definitely stuff like Benromach and Springbank are at the lighter end of the spectrum. I realized when I was making this that there aren't all that many heavily peated regular 10-year-old releases out there, so I opted to include some gentler stuff. Cheers Green! Good to hear from you! 🥃
@@Gwhisky cheers 🥃👍💯 agree, I like to see your reviews are mainly scotch, so this idea of comparing within the scotch 🥃 is what interest most of us, I gave a try to bourbon I bought 2 different well recommended by the bourbon channel and I couldn't drink it, the nail polish acetone was too much for me, it was wild turkey and Russell reserve. After holding those bottles for almost a year hoping that they might change like some scotch do, I had to throw it away down the kitchen sink , and they were not cheap. 46$ was the Russel reserve. So I said to myself, bourbon is not for me.
@@greenvalley651 Hah! Pretty scathing! I'm OK with a bourbon once in a while, but they need to be few and far between, and I tend to prefer the more floral, less syrupy ones. Woodford and Eagle Rare 10 are both decent. But yeah... scotch all day! 😬🥃
@@Gwhisky 😀🥃👍
Nice list Geoff. I am not that experienced so I have not tried all the top 10 you mention. Springbank is one of my favourites so far, but I think it's lightly peated so I wouldn't include it on this list. I believe that Lagavulin 16 and caol ila 12 could be on this list. From the top 5 I am searching for ledaig 10 and I just opened PC10 which is great...
Laga 16 and Caol Ila 12 aren't 10-year-olds, so they weren't in the running. Fair point about the SB10. It's only lightly peated but I said at the beginning of the video that I wouldn't focus on peat levels. Thanks for watching Kwstas! 🥃
Thank you for this list. I love my peaty whisky 🥃!
I’m always in the hunt to try a new one, that is a decent price. I do enjoy the Port charlotte. The laphroig 10 for me personally does not have enough peat. I’m more of a cask strength gal. 😃
Thanks for your reviews. Now off to go find a few of them.
Great list! Keep up the great work!
Cheers Andrei!🥃
Good list for sure. Availability issues in my province have made most of them total unicorns for me, so I'm not even sure what my top 10 to-year peaties would be. I love that Ledaig, so it would be on, as would the laphroaig.
Great list - Port Charlotte is my number 1. I'd love to know where the USA's 43% Laphraoig would finish on your list. That is a fave of mine and I hear negative things about the 40%. And agree with Ardbeg being lower down. Definitely diminished in quality and I feel they released the Wee Beastie (decent but wouldn't buy again) at $45 so they can up the price of the 10 YO by $10.
I'd love to try the Laph 10 at 43%, unfortunately thats only in the States. The Wee Beastie is better than the 10 imo. I wouldn't be surprised if Ardbeg stops producing the 10 at some point and just gives us the 5. Tbh I wouldn't mind! 🥃
I do miss the days when Bowmore and Ledaig were ignored and on the bottom shelf and I was one of a few people in my area who were buying.
Got a Springbank 10 for my birthday last week 🙂. Don't think I'll be drinking it mind you.
It's damn good! Great gift! 🥃
Great list..
I have 1 and have not opened it yet..Ardbeg..
I have a 10 year old Talisker..but, it is D.E
My store has older PC before they put age statement.
Thanks for the heads up.
Cheers
Nice list to look for...
Well in my mind the newer PC releases are a bit better. Love the Talisker DE! Cheers Jeff hope you enjoyed the weekend! 😉🥃
@@Gwhisky I guess I have 2 Laphroig that are 10s...just one is PX and other is 1/4 cask...
My weekend was very mellow..
My Khmer gal took off in a dramatic fashion..like a Thai soap opera dubbed in Khmer..
So, I can now add extra dollars to my whisky budget...
Happy days!
Cheers...
Nice list. I haven't tried them all but nice anyway.
Thanks Mats. Enjoy the rest of your weekend buddy! 🥃
@@Gwhisky You to👍. Tonight I'm gonna give myself a treat... The last dram from the Port Askaig 10yo 10th Anniversary 🥂cheers....one of the best Islay whisky so far.
Never nothing wrong with a list . :)
Is there a Bowmore you recommend? Just wanna have tasted all the Islay:)
I'm a big fan of the 18. There's a standard 18 and the “Deep & Complex” travel retail. I prefer the Deep & Complex. I'd say it's my favourite from their standard line. 🥃
I've only been on my whisky journey for just over 1 year.
I do love the peaty/smokey whisky.
From your list I only have the PC10, and I like it.
I will try some on your list, if I can afford them.
👍
Enjoy the exploring, Jim! 🥃
Although he did not review the cask strength. If you have not tried the laphorig 10 yr cask strength. It’s is a pop of peat.
Totally agree on manager team of Springbank! lol
Last year I had a dram of SP10 at a bar, immediately be my top1 just at first sip! Vivid fruit, low peat in background, so perfect...I miss it. Guest only Arran10 do a peated version can compete with it. Cheers!🍺🍺
Actually you might like the Ben Nevis 10. It's gently peated. I haven't had it in a really long time so I didn't put it on this list, but it's delicious. Unfortunately it's really hard to find and it's too expensive for a 10 year old in Taiwan. Great stuff, though! Cheers Allan! 🥃
Will keep an eye on that! Never taste and see any of Ben Nevis product here though.
Okay...The continuing saga. The PC10 I referred to 'trying'? Well, I tried it. It has consequently displaced Talisker in my selections. Yeah, I LIKED this stuff. This is what 'heavy peat' should be like. It got resampled, then shopped around to drinking buddies. Everybody agreed. It was a big time winner. It moved right on up to the High Council of my cabinet pantheon. Then, with all the talk of Kilchoman and its three core expressions, I figured I should trial them, too. I followed the 'Mama Bear' protocol and selected the 'middle expression', Sanaig. Again, this was a big winner. It is a mite more lapsang tsuchong than I like, but not enough to be annoying, and the distillate is premiere.
Then, the Ardbeg cult continues to proselytize amongst the unwary, so I decided to do some taste testing using their three bottle sample pack. It looks like it might have been a Halloween release, what with all the 'monsters of peat' crap on the pack. Anyway, I got 200 ml each of An Oa, 10, and Wee Beastie. I trialed the An Oa, against a friend's Scarabus and was not alienated at all. Unexpectedly, I liked both. I may need to revise my poor opinion of Ardbeg.
The same week that I obtained the sample pack, a friend and I went on a hunting trip, to the Total Wine across the river in another state (with different alcohol laws and marketing options) I fleshed out my growing pack of viscious rumors with the acquisition of a Springbank 15. Yes, I have already obtained a Springbank 10, a Longrow, a Kilkerran, and a Campbeltown Loch, so I have quite the stable of unicorns. (And, a Hazelburn on its way via parcel delivery.)
So glad you liked the PC10 and Kilchoman!
Funny.. I've got An Oa on the go and I've found it to be one of the weaker Ardbeg expressions. Hah!
Quite the Springbank collection. Let me know if you're sending out international invites to to your 70th celebration. 😂
@Gwhisky That's why I started with the An Oa, because it was described as "Ardbeg with training wheels". Next up is the 10, and then lastly, the Wee Beasty.
Well, we followed up with the 10 and Wee Beastie and both failed utterly miserably. 10 was described as 'tire fire on a beach' and the Wee Beastie as a 'tire fire on the beach where somebody threw on a load of sweaty horse blankets'. So, I'll drink An Oa, but all other Ardbeg expressions have been trashed.
Sorry to hear they didn't suit you. "Tire fire on a beach" sounds great to me! 😉
Wow. Spot on ranking except the Bowmore. But I see where you are coming from. I personally prefer the Ballechin over the Bowmore due to its uniqueness. I assume you left out the cask strength whiskies intentionally. If we were to consider those, the Laphroaig 10 cask strength and the Port Askaig 10 CS would be among the top whiskies with the Laph getting the last laugh (so much for my terrible pun of the day).
For non CS, this list is near perfect. You were right on the money with your dissatisfaction with the current batches of the Ardbeg core range. While their committee releases have had some gems in recent times, their core range has suffered. I suspect they will phase out their 10 and replace it with the Wee Beastie. I hope Kilchomann comes up with a 10 year old. I know we would all love to see where that stand among its peers.
Great video, fun and good try in trying to ruffle some feathers with something other than your whisky list.
Yeah cask strength and batch whiskies were omitted. Standard released 10's at standard bottling strength only. No doubt the Laph 10 would have topped the list otherwise! Actually, it was pretty hard to cook up this list. I didn't realize how limited our options are when you narrow it down to standard 10-year-old peated stuff. For a "top 10" list, the back end of the list isn't exactly brimming with favourites.
My last few Ardbeg 10s have left me pretty underwhelmed. In terms of visceral enjoyment, I might have even placed it behind the Benromach. My fond memories of the older bottlings and the fact that it's 46% and non-chill filtered are the only reason it broke into the top 5!
I'd be surprised if Kilchoman doesn't start offering us a standard 10 year old offering within the next few years. High hopes for that one...
Cheers buddy! 🥃
Hey, I know this is crazy, but could you review any of the Macallan 12's? I had decided they were 'basic' years ago, but some Whisky Bible reviews etc suggest that they have improved. I can't tell if they are ever worth the money?
I've reviewed the Mac 12 Double Oak. I like it! Weak abv but beautiful flavours. Same goes for the Sherry Oak! 🥃
Where would you rank Lagavulin 16 in that list? I know it's unfair to compare 10 with 16, but Laga 16 is a kind of a stable at a comparable price point, but their 10 isn't.
Hmm. Probably number 6.
Good stuff Geoff!!
Thanks MM! Cheers! 🥃
Springbank 10? If I'm reachin for peated then I want peat, not funk. Also, SB 10 is $80usd. If I want the funk I'll spend the extra $5 and get Kilkerran 8 Cask Strength. Next, PC 10 Heavily Peated was a hot mess when I had it 4yrs ago, 50% abv didn't help it (I love Laphroaig CS and Ardbeg Corry by the way!). Have not had Ledaig 10 so no opinion there. Talisker 10 is great and I agree with your tasting notes, love the pepperyness especially! Ardbeg 10 would be at the top of my list. The last bottle I had was bottled 2016 so I can't speak to current bottlings being worse. I can say that Laga 16 bottlings after 2013 are trash! BenRiach 10 Curitous is fantastic, I have not had the current 10yr peated though. Laphroaig 10 was solid, 43% here, until about 2018 then it started to go down (not as bad as Laga 16). I have not had the others on your list so can't speak to those either. So top 3 for me Ardbeg 10, 2016 bottling. BenRiach 10 Curitous, 2017 bottling. Talisker 10. But the best 10yr peated is ofcourse Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength, preferably batch 009! Great idea for a list, cheers!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You mentioned how you haven't had any recent batches of PC10 and Ardbeg 10. Personally, I'd have placed the Ardbeg over the PC is the bottles were from 5 years ago. You may (or may not) find that newer versions of the stuff have changed dramatically. I certainly think they do. Worth revisiting!
And yeah, if CS was allowed on this list the Laph 10 Cask Strength would have won! 😉🥃
I’d be adding in a Kilchoman Loch Gorm and maybe the Lagavulin 16
Nice!
Great video......short and sweet. I do not have any Scotch in the bar as yet......pretty much strictly a nice Bourbon drinker. I will say that within the next few days I will certainly procure one of your top 5 listings as my entry into the Scotch mayhem
Hope you enjoy! Thanks for watching! 🥃
Even if my comment is a little bit late, I agree with your position 2 to 5. The Port Charlotte is my favored Whisky till now. Never tried the Springbank 10. Have ordered one bottle now, quite expensive for a 10 years old Whisky (83.00€ in Germany), but want to try.
I would add Old Ballantruan 10, and drop the Bowmore 10.
Could you do a review of Glenfarclas please? Any or all of the ones from 15 to 21yo. I found this to be interesting due to learning that this brand uses any or all of first fill to fourth fill casks. I've even read that they only use European oak, but I doubt that one.
I have a Glenfarclas 15 open at the moment. I'll likely review it within the coming month or two. 🙂
Totally appropriate ranking for Laphroaig 10… to be honest it wouldn’t make my list at all. Complete rubbish bottling. Ardbeg a solid 5 agree your points. Ardbeg has lost its way a bit. Top 3 I’d swap PC with Ledaig.
I might swap PC and Ledaig myself. Anything in my top 3 could be switched around depending on my mood tbh. Cheers! 🥃
In the US Springbank 10 is basically $100 now. Unsure if this is the distillery or the new importer but despite that it’s still nearly impossible to find (just grabbed one today tho after a day of liquor store shopping - I hear the 2021 is especially good)
Damn, yeah SB10 is about that here in Taiwan as well. It was less than half that just a year or so ago.
Great list Geoff! I've had a chance to try most of them except for the Bowmore, Ballechin, Benromach and the new Benriach 10. I did have the Benriach 10 Curiositas which was really enjoyable, but don't know whether the recipe has changed in this new version. Our top 5 are pretty much the same. Just not sure I could put the SB 10 at #1 since I only had it once 4 years ago and it's pretty light on the peat. However it was one of those few "Wow" moments that I've had when trying a whisky for the first time. Guess we'll see once I spend some time with the bottle I finally managed to pick up 😉 Cheers!
Thanks Peter. Yeah this list is for peated whiskies in general, so not specific to heavily peated whiskies. The new Benroach 10 is different from the old Curiositas (and it's not better, imo). Glad you've had a chance to try most! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Benroach 10 eh? Lol, guessing it's a typo? Knew I should have gotten a second bottle of the Curiositas when I had a chance!
Nice list. I might have put the PC10 at no 1 just because peat isn't really the USP of the Springbank, even though it's great stuff.
Fair enough! The top three could be shuffled around and which way depending on my.mood tbh. 🥃
1 PC 10
2 ARDBEG 10
3 LEDAIG 10
4 Laphroaig 10
5 Talisker 10
Great picks! 🥃
My personal list
1. PC 10
2. Springbank 10
3. Ardbeg 10
4. Laphroig 10
5.Talisker 10
Good picks! I definitely need to update this list!
@@Gwhisky everybody has his own tastes. Everybody will have a different list
Absolutely. But I rewatched this earlier today and there's actually some minor adjustments I'd make. Thos is the kind of video you could redo every couple of years.
Good video
Thanks Jay! 🥃
Laphroaig sherry oak is a must try
I tried it for a few weeks back. Excellent stuff! 🥃
Love the Top 5. Have not been able to find the Springbank 10.
A lot of people have that problem. I still have a bit left from a bottle I picked up last year. I haven't seen it around in the shops here in a while...
@@Gwhisky Did find the Longrow Peated NAS and it is quite good.
@@DileepB ...and overpriced. 🤷♂️
LEDAIG with the ten this year made a good work.
It's fantastic. 🥃
Great video Geoff I enjoyed your opinions. I can't believe what you said about Laphroaig though, I think you are pulling our legs! Although I do agree that the cask strength is even better. There were a couple there I had never had so things to consider for the future. I completely agree about Ledaig. I have had one of those & loved it. Also this year I have had a bottle of 11 year old Ardmore which was fabulous although it was a Signatory bottling so not for your video
I'll be rereleasing this video in the coming year and there will be several things that get shuffled around. 😉
Fun list! Good job. Too bad you couldn't make an exception for Lagavulin 8. Would have liked to see where you inserted that one. I really have to try that Springbank 10 and PC 10.
I'll be reviewing that Lagavulin 8 pretty soon!
Great list. I’d have SB10 at one as well. L10 at 40% is a travesty.
Agree. Laphroaig has great flavours in there and they've just about neutered it!
@@Gwhisky laphroaig 10 should by 100% bottled at 46% or QC should be 10yo!!
Bowmore flavour profile. Nose: warm and wet wool socks.
Geoff good job , like !
Thanks buddy! 🥃
Nice list. I just started out buying whiskey. Bought Ardbeg 10, Lagabulin 16, and pc10. Are these good for beginnners? Or should I buy something else when starting out?
Great picks! All of them are solid. The 10s for a rugged punchy hit of peat. The Laga 16 for some calm sophistication. Enjoy!
@@Gwhisky thank you ✍️🙂
Great list. Would love you to do top 7 18 yo’s
I'll be reviewing a bunch of 18 yearvolds this summer. There will be a list afterward with my top 10 or 20 18s. Cheers! 🥃
I know this is your personal 10-Year-Old Peated list and quality and flavour are sometimes not the main criteria. This is the only way I can explain how Bowmore 10 made the list and how Talisker 10 beat Ardbeg 10. I do agree with you though regarding Ballechin 10. I like you, never really connected with this, finding the peat slightly cheesy and the spirit a bit dry.
Anyway, there is a simply wonderful heavily peated 10-Year-Old Single Malt delicious Peat Monster which you obviously have not mentioned. No one does! It flies under everyone's RADAR and if they do happen to come across it, they'll turn their noses up at it and move on, not even giving it the time of day.
It's almost an Integrity bottling:
It is bottled at a whopping 50% abv
It is Non-Chill Filtered.
It is heavily peated at 55 PPM.
It has however had a heavy dose of E150a caramel colouring which really lets its Integrity credentials down. (I have repeatedly complained to the distillery manager until he actually started to get really irritated with me. There is simply no convincing him to stop using this stuff).
However, what really lets it down is that it's made by probably the most un-coolest distillery in the whole of Scotland.
They have attempted to compensate for this by naming the brand after the water source but to no avail.
There are three single malts in the series, all in my opinion, excellent. The NAS, a 10-Year-Old and a 15-Year-Old.
*My tasting Notes:*
It has a big heavy phenolic punch which never recedes from the first sip until the final drop. There is a lovely oily sweet barley cream texture, no doubt due to the non-chill filtering. Once you get beyond the peat explosion you discover that this whisky is actually quite fruit rich. Steamed apples and sultanas, pears apricots with white honey, black treacle, black pepper and cinnamon. In the background there is a lovely sweet aroma of fresh smoked leathery juicy beef steak in a white wine marinade. Holding it in the mouth, you have a creamy porridge, melt-in-the-mouth shortcake butter biscuits, vanilla cream cakes with thick white honey.
To say that the finish is long is an understatement. It is almost permanent like fire damage that, no matter how much you wash it, simply won’t go away on your taste buds. There is baked apple with soggy charred leaves and damp scorched sweet wood sap and lots of spices covered in forest ash, plump sultanas and dark toffee treacle and sweet maple syrup burnt forest wood on the finish.
What is this incredible whisky you ask yourself? Why have I never tried it?
It's hiding in plain site. It is the....
Old Ballantruan 10 from Tomintoul distillery.
Yes, you can all start sniggering now, but your snobbishness will cause you to miss out on a genuinely great whisky.
I cannot praise this highly enough despite hating their non-peated core range. The 10, 16 and 18 are, in my opinion, embarrassingly poor whiskies, designed for the nock it back, casual Blended Scotch market.
Once you have marvelled at the qualities and sheer drinking enjoyment of the Old Ballantruan 10-Year-Old, please go on to the 15-Year-Old. It's a show stopper! Honestly, save it for the last dram of the evening. It's that good.
Interesting. I tried the 10 ages ago but it's been about 10 years. It's sold in my market but it's quite overpriced. This review certainly makes me want to grab a bottle, though. That's one that's been recommended to me quite a few times now. Thanks for the notes, Reb! 🥃
Great list👍🏻
I would have put the Laphroaig 10y higher though😬
Also like the Lagavulin 10y though it is low ABV😋
I haven't tried the Laga 10 yet. Bit pricey for a 10 year old at 43%, though. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky bought mine at Stansted 2y ago for 50€ in Germany you can get it for 55€ so not sooo pricey😬
I bought a “travel exclusive “ Lagavulin 10 from the airport in Bucharest last year. Don’t remember the price, I paid in local currency. I liked it better after I got through about half the bottle, but I don’t think it would’ve made this top 10.
I don't think I had ten different 10 year old whiskies, let alone peated ones 😅
On the bright side your liver is probably healthier than mine! 😂🥃
Whew, I was afraid Springbank 10 wouldn't make it there haha. I was like, either it's number 1 or he just hasn't had it in a while... In any case, I agree with a lot of your points, especially with Springbank 10 being number 1... I would have ranked Ardbeg over the Talisker though... I especially liked the Laphroaig commentary... Even at 43% ABV here in the states, I'm not too impressed by it. It's a classic and it's a good peated whisky, but not much more and there are certainly better ones... And that Ardbeg could focus more on its core range rather than their NAS Committee Releases costing an arm and a leg... Anyways, here's my Top 10-yr old peated whiskies in order: 1) Springbank; 2) Ardbeg; 3) Ledaig; 4) Port Charlotte; 5) Talisker; 6) Laphroaig Sherry; 7) Laphroaig 10 Cask Strength; 8) Laphroaig 10 Classic... I have a sample of the Benriach Smoky Ten that I'll be trying soon, but muting my expectations...
Solid rankings! Yeah the Laphroaig is weak at 40%, and I don't imagine it's great stuff at 43% either.
A few years back I would have put the Ardbeg ahead of the Talisker myself. Unfortunately I've been less than impressed with the last few bottles I've had. Cheers Lloyd! 🥃
Disappointed that Kilchomen and Lagavulin haven't made an appearance
I haven't had Laga 10, which is a special release, and Kilchoman don't have a 10 year old. 🥃
@Gwhisky Oops... didn't catch that they had to be 10 year releases. For Christmas, I got a bottle of the Laga 11 Offerman edition. Not quite as gentlemanly as the 16, but still damn good stuff. Give Kilchomen a few years and they'll have some very nice age stated stuff.
Wow! I thought you would have ARDBEG 10 at #2
HELP! I'm new to whisky and I bought my first peated, a lagavulin 8! How do you understand if the cork is gone bad and ruined the taste of the whisky or if it's just the peat? I have no frame of reference since I never had a peated one before...
I've never had cork ruin the taste of a whisky. When they rot and crumble into the whisky I simply remove them. There would have to be a pretty severe bacterial problem with that cork. But there are a lot of very medicinal, challenging, and strange notes in peat for the uninitiated. It might just be that? 🥃
@@Gwhisky Ty for the fast response (great channel btw!) I actually don't disdain the taste and nose of peat (if that's what it is) I was just worried I might had to return the bottle since I didn't know how it was. If you say the bacterial problem has to be severe, I really don't think that's my case then, ty again!
Well I can't be sure about whats happening with your specific bottle, just sharing my own experience. Thanks for watching Ricochet! 🥃
I enjoyed and appreciated this list. I'm that new guy, just starting with Laphroaig 10. Really getting into the smokiness. I'm also seeking less sweet. But affordable? Over $50 US is seems like a lot to me. Anyway, thanks.
The highest compliment I could pay Ledaig 10 is that I don’t know if Laga 16 would beat it in a blind-tasting.
Springbank in a peat list (or any list!) feels unfair. Quite happy with PC10 as #1.
My no.1 10yr whisky is Tamdhu 10 2017 special edition, it doesn't taste like a 10 year old scotch, very round.
Sounds like an interesting one. This list was specifically about peated whiskies. Had I included non-peated options, it would certainly have looked very different. I'll have to keep an eye out for that Tamdhu in case there are any left. Great brand! 🥃
@@Gwhisky It was called Tamdhu Unveils Limited Edition ‘Lantern’ Tin
Laphroig 10 is too 'in the face' for me. Benromach 10 is on order. I have Talisker Storm in my cabinet, and I have stepped up to Lagavulin 16. Two of your picks, including your top pick, Springbank 10, and your #10 pick, Ballachin, are not available here on the left coast, at least up in the wet corner. I've been a Speyside drinker for decades and then I went to Orkney and stumbled across Highland Park, particularly their 'travel special' bottling 'Einar' (in the 'warrior series') with which I fell in complete thrall. The thing is, it is not for sale anywhere in the US, nor can it be purchased for home delivery online. So, I've been looking hard for a decent substitution. Guess what? HP 12 Viking, their Magnus, and the cast strength, and all have all fallen desperately short in the taste notes, particularly the soft lingering peat note. I've been gleaning the 'lightly peated' lines for a better match. The move from Laphroig 10 to Lagavulin 16 was an excellent one, although quite costly and it still didn't approximate my goal.
The closest I have come to the desired flavor set is Westlands Peated American Single Malt...with no age date at all and prolly at six or less years in a barrel. So far. Watch out, Alba.
PC10 is my fav. I looooove Springbank too, which costed me $150ish, but I do not regret and intend to buy one more till I can. I DO NOT like Bowmore , as I am stickler for non-chill filtration , higher ABV, and preferably a natural colour. I feel Bowmore is an outlier on Islay, given the honest distilleries and brethren there like Bruichladdich and Bunnahaibhan.
Yeah Bowmore is an oddball on Islay. It's got a very interesting house style that I do actually like, but I agree, they often shoot themselves in the foot with their weak specs. Cheers.