Peated whisky at its finest. | Ten Peated 10-Year-Olds RANKED
Вставка
- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Here are a bunch of peated 10-year-old whiskies. Some heavily peated, some lightly. I'll be ranking them today. Cheers!
Support the Channel: / gwhisky
IG: @gwhiskytw
Business/Contact info: gwhiskytw@gmail.com
Scores:
0-75 - Crap
75-79 - For cocktails & people you don't like
80-82 - Not bad
83-85 - Getting good here
86-89 - Delicious
90-94 - Awesome
95-100 - Cowabunga Dudes
Music: freemusicarchi...
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.
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.
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! 🥃
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.
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
Agree, great list. Can’t wait to try!
Thank you, Wayne! 🥃
Nice review, chap; cheers from England. I think your rankings are pretty accurate imho, (according to my palate, anyway). Just lately I’ve been buying more independent bottling of lesser-known distilleries and there are some amazing whiskies out there.
Springbank 10 is actually the best expression in the entire line.
Great video , got some new ones to go check out now. Keep up the good work
Cheers Garryn. Thanks for watching! 🥃
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 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! 🥃
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!
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
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.
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!
A list to refer to before the next purchase! Great for us without experience.
Appreciate you watching Greg! Enjoy the journey! 🥃
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 ✍️🙂
Kudos on you remarks re the management of Springbank!!
Glen Scotia 10 Peated is a good one to.
Sounds interesting. Never tried it! 🥃
Have you ever tried Glen Scotia 18? I saw a dusty one yesterday.
Great list! Keep up the great work!
Cheers Andrei!🥃
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 😉) 🥃
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! 🥃
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! 🥃
Nice options never seen .Good effort
Thanks Ganesan! 🥃
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.
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! 🥃
I really liked your concept for and presentation in this video. Good job! I've never had some of the ones on this list. I had a PC 2013, I think it was, a few years ago. I wanted to like it so much, but I didn't care for it at all until the very last dram. Then, for some reason, it was gorgeous! // Ardbeg 10 doesn't really do much for me. Laphroaig 10 I like, but here in BC it's 43 percent, which is good. Talisker 10 is excellent, but my favourite "Islay" whisky is from the neighbouring island of Mull: Ledaig 10. This is an amazing whisky for the money!!
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 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! 🥃
Savvy analysis. Cheers!
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! 🥃
Nice list! Tought I would find out any kilchoman here!
Please drop a top10 sherry 10 yo and/or a top 10 cask strenght!
I am going to speyside/islay tour next april and want to collect some insights here! Cheers
Kilchoman doesn't have a standard released 10 year old. I'll he doing more lists down the line. Thanks for watching Christian! 🥃
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!
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...
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...
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!
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.
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! 🥃
I just last week blind tasted Glenturret 10 Vs Port Charlotte 10 vs Ledaig 10 and I picked Glenturret as #1 on both nose and palate. Great stuff! Just like the 12 maiden release.
Dying to try the new Glenturret line. Shame it's not available in Taiwan yet! Happy to hear the 10 is good. Cheers Martin!
@@Gwhisky I can send you samples if you like. They are really good.
Very kind offer, Martin, but I'm actually considering ordering some in internationally from Master of Malt. Bite the bullet on the shipping and get my hands on a few bottlesI can't find here in Taiwan. A couple of the new Glenturrets will definitely be among them. Appreciated, though! 🙏🥃
So now I have to put Glenturret on my radar!?!
The only bottle I see is a ridiculous 27 year old for $200 bottled at 40%. Not going to happen.
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! 🥃
The funk you mentioned about the ballechin reminded me very much of burned rubber, it’s a personal hit or miss flavor.
Agree. Ballechin isn't for everyone, and it's definitely not for beginners. Challenging stuff. Even I've been put off by it!
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!
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 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 😀🥃👍
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..
Youre funny. Looks like gollum
Springbank 10 is difficult to purchase over here in England also. Can I suggest that you try 'Kilkerran Heavily Peated' as an alternative. Distilled in Springbank's sister distillery in Campbeltown. Production is carried out approx 3 months every year by the Springbank staff. It is delicious and stands shoulder to shoulder with any Islay offering. Give it a try if available wher you are in the world.
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
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.
Nicely done video. What would you recommend for someone new to peated whiskey?
If you want to ease into peat, you could start with gently peated stuff like Highland Park or Talisker. But I usually encourage people to just jump into the deep end and try their hand with an Ardbeg or a Laphroaig. 🥃
Good stuff Geoff!!
Thanks MM! Cheers! 🥃
I was surprised to find Laphroaig on 7th position only. I love this Whisky. I was even more surprised to find Ardbeg only on position 5 and i was most surprised, that Lagavulin is not even on the list.
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! 🇨🇦
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
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!
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! 🥃
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! 🥃
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?
@@anomniscientcat3483late reply - somewhere between those two :)
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...
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. 😉
yeah, the Arbeg 10 is almost newmake-y at this point.
whether it's mega used casks, or they're not topping it up with older malt now but used to, i don't know, but yeah. been a little bit thin and 'youthful' recently.
Agree. I actually prefer the 5 these days. Cheers Coop!
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'd like to hear a review on single malt scotches matured in virgin, or just lightly sherried (no bourbon influence at all), European oak only casks. The review could be instead on at least mostly European oak influenced, if it is too hard to find ones w/o American oak influence at all. The least priced ones would be best for me.
Thanks for this great review of these smoky scotches! This went by so quick that I wish you would have done top 20😄 Was surprised to not hear the name Lagavulin for as popular as I hear it is. I wouldn't really know though as I've only had one scotch which was quite smoky, but am looking very much forward to trying more.
Lagavulin does a young 8 and a 16. The 16 is highly recommended for being sweet peat. But the only fully sherried peat might be the Loch Gorm. Otherwise you might be looking for a unicorn, or an independent bottler or a single cask edition perhaps from Kilchoman also.
Good luck on your quest.
One thing might be Michel Couvreur Whisky. They bring single malt to France and age it there.
The American Bourbon industry has so many barrels available that the scotch industry would be foolish to ignore.
@@jackthepickledhound As a noob to scotch, with only 2 books on the subject and so much online reading to do to learn this, I wish that the companies would put which type, European or American, of oak they are sherrying for their scotch, and put that info on the bottles. In short, my opinion is that which oak type they sherry makes a difference too, and my books for vast majority of the drams don't mention which oak and just say "sherried oak". As you know from above, especially when it comes to bourbon influenced cask, I'm barely interested do too the flavors that imparts.
Yes I was so glad to hear that Kilchoman has the Loch Gorm and have been looking for that for some time now online and calling. Am patiently waiting for that to appear on the shelves again.
I think that the scotch industry shouldn't completely ignore the bourbon industry. They say that "variety is the spice of life". I prefer the Euro oak spices.
I hope that your scotch journeys are great!
@@Themilkmanskid. Disclosure and transparency is not the way for SWA. For example, they silenced Compass Box from labels that included all the particular malts in the blend. The business decisions are not going to reflect any respect for those of us who care about the product.
There was a time when sherry was imported into the UK in casks, some may have bees European oak. The Spanish outlawed that. Now it must be bottled in Spain as Scotch must be bottled in Scotland, as bourbon must be put into virgin Oak. I'm just saying that after one short stint in the oak, bourbon companies have many barrels to dispose of.
Virgin European oak? Now that I read more carefully, is a tall order. I did a lot of driving around from shop to shop and buying different bottles. I understand your concern about the vanillas that American oak bourbon barrels impart. The Tomatin Dualchas/Legacy epitomizes this. The Balvenie 15 states on the label "exclusively in a European Oak Sherry Butt".
I just did a search and a Reddit post came up with a very confused interpretation of the terms "traditional" and "American" oak. Ralfy did a Cask rant and Erik Wait explored sherry for a few videos last summer. I will keep a lookout for virgin European oak.
@@jackthepickledhound Glenfarclas: I read somewhere that they use up to 4th fill and that's the best this noob can come up with. Other than that I've read that GlenDronach 18, the Loch Gorm, and yes the Balvanie 15, macallan 12 sherry oak, all sherried as you know, are the closest I know of so far to what I may or may not make my favorites some day. I really have no idea because i'm so new to this stuff. I do know of a few drams that are maybe like those, but also have at least some Amer oak influence, so my "unicorns" are, like the false peak on a mountain, not quite truly unicorns that I'm chasing.
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!
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! 🥃
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.
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.
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.
Update: Found a bottle of Benromach 15. Fell hard. After resampling the bottle, I returned to obtain a second, backup bottle. (This is a first time ever behavior. I've never had two bottles of the same distillate in my home.) I did trial the Benrioch Smoky 12 along the way and moved on. My bottle of Talisker Storm is about to tap out and I have a fresh bottle of Port Charlotte 10 ready to step in to its place in the rotation. Talisker earned a "will restock" status, but I gotta try out the PC10, even though heavy peat is not my thing. "Lilting hint" is my signature catchphrase when it comes to peat smoke. I will prolly be trying the HP18 this summer to see if it meets RFP specs. I want to be able to sit around the campfire without having to endure the column of smoke blowing directly into my face.
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.
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. 🤷♂️
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! 🥃
Aussie Canuck- great list. Do your top 18 yo’s. Would be great
Nice review, Geoff! Love the straight forward delivery. I'm planning a single malt tasting for novices. The theme is a release from each region (in Scotland). I have ideas for Spey, Low, High, Islay and Islands but Campbeltown is challenging and pricey in NY. I can get the Springbank 10 for $92. Is it worth it? I can get the Glen Scotia Double Cask for $30 less and the 15 for $10 less and pretty easily. Any opinions or others to consider? Thank you!
Well I'd suggest the Springbank over the Glen Scotias. For me it does a better job of embodying the flavours we typically get from Campbeltown. Also, it's quite rare in a lot of places and is being sold at extremely inflated secondary market prices. While I think USD $92 is high for it, I'd still say it's your best bet for the tasting. Cheers Phil. Appreciate the kind words.
@@Gwhisky uuuuhg Geoff, I was worried you would say that : )~ Ok, we'll see, maybe I can save a bit on the other regions. Can I email, Twitter or FB you for some suggestions and what I'm considering? thank you!
Hey G, quick question. What do you think about opened scotch bottles. I have opened 10 single malts and i read that over time they will deteriorate in taste/flavor. Im hesitant to open further my scotches because its not really cheap in my country. Is it really true in your experience that the taste really goes off?
I tend not to worry about it until the bottles get low. When a bottle is close to being finished, it seems to go downhill quite quickly. If there's a fair amount of whisky in the bottle (over 1/3) I don't really worry about it. If you're concerned though, you could start gassing your bottles. 🙂
Good point. I dont really wana bother myself with gassing etc. I worried coz i have half bottle already. Now i know your opinion, it's okay. Thanks
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! 🥃
Great comments. Great suggestions. Great presentation. I need to get to it. Cool.
Thanks man! 💪
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.
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. 🙂
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 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.
Could you please do a review of The Campbletown Single Malts and list them as you did with Islay single malts?
If I could get my hands on anything from Springbank I would, but I can't. Hardly worth doing a Campbeltown roundup without the main event! I like the idea, though. Would have been perfectly doable a year or two ago. Cheers. 🥃
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. 🥃
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.
Never nothing wrong with a list . :)
Mine:
10. Ballechin
9. Benriach
8. Benromach
7. Laphroig
6. Springbank
5. Bowmore
4. Talisker
3. Port Charlotte
2. Ledaig
1. Ardbeg
The top spot on my list belongs to Laphroaig 10 CS, it's really hard to beat.
Agree. This list was for standard releases, so no CS. If I'd included cask strength, the Laphroaig would have taken the top spot! 🥃
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! 🥃
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! 😉
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.
Like the list. I think I would put the Smoky 10 & Ballechin higher. Just finally got a bottle of Springbank 10 for $100 USD. Cheers
This list needs to be updated, admittedly. A few things I night shuffle around these days. Cheers!
Yes please update list! I love these
Bowmore flavour profile. Nose: warm and wet wool socks.
Do you think having the SB10 is worthwhile if you have the SB12?
Worthwhile? Yes. The 12 is better, but they're different enough to justify having both. 🥃
LEDAIG with the ten this year made a good work.
It's fantastic. 🥃
Not even surprised by No.1
5. Talisker 10
4. Kilchomen Sanaig
3 Ardbeg 10
2. Lagavulin 16
1. PC 10
Geoff good job , like !
Thanks buddy! 🥃
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.
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!!