This whisky is the 2026 limited edition bottling for the Ardbeg Committee. It sees the Islay distillery’s legendary 10 Years Old expression, which forms the cornerstone of their core range, be released as a cask strength version. This will be the first time there has been such a bottling for a wider audience, apart from a highly prized limited release in Japan in 2003. The release follows repeated calls for such a whisky from Committee members, and the Ardbeg whisky making team has responded.
They have created a modern day version of the Japanese cult classic. The project was led by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Ardbeg. It features hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon casks, including some experimental barrels filled with un-diluted high ABV spirit. It is the first release under the stewardship of new Committee co-chairs Gillian Macdonald and Bryony McNiven. They are Master Blender and Distillery Manager at Ardbeg respectively.
The Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength is bottled at 61.7% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available exclusively to members of the Ardbeg Committee via www.ardbeg.com from February 24. A small number of bottles will also be on sale at the visitor centre shop at the distillery on Islay from the same date. A bottle will cost £75.
The Ardbeg Committee
The Committee was formed in 2000 after Ardbeg was saved from closure in the late-1990s. The mission was to prevent the doors of the Islay distillery from ever closing again. In reality it now means that this select group of people, which totals over 200,000 worldwide, gets access to exclusive bottles created just for them. The latest of which is this Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength. The Committee celebrated its 25th anniversary last year with several events and the release of a special bottling named Eureka!
The Ardbeg distillery is located on the Hebridean island of Islay. It was founded in 1815 by John MacDougall, although records show distillation taking place on the site as far back as 1794. The recent history shows numerous changes of ownership from the 1950s to a fallow period in the 1980s and 90s, until The Glenmorangie Company (now Moët Hennessy) took over in 1997. This signalled the rebirth of Ardbeg and a significant upturn in fortunes. The distillery has an annual production of just 2.4 million litres per year.
Our Tasting Notes
The colour is vibrant gold and the nose is deliciously sweet and savoury. Sweet aromas of lemon curd, icing sugar and vanilla custard are quickly joined by a prickly peppery heat and sooty, ashy peat smoke. This feels earthy and coastal with a wisp of salty ozone and hint of damp moss and dying bonfire. Further hints of dessicated cocount and hazelnut praline, plus liquorice and bitter green herbs.
On the palate this whisky is vibrant, fresh and punchy. It exhibits a similar sweet versus savoury as on nose. The peat smoke hits hard and has the same peppery heat, maybe even a little fresh green chilli. The smoke is again earthy and reminiscent of damp moss with a distinct sooty edge. With time the soot mellows to be more like dying bonfire embers and bitter cocoa powder. The salty minerality from the nose also remains.
The earthiness is exaggerated further with a malty and biscuity note. This adds structure and depth. Much needed sweetness comes in the form of vanilla toffee, crème brûlée and icing sugar, plus hints of creamy milk chocolate and fairground candy floss. Background notes of earl grey tea, a twist of lemon zest, fennel seed and a herbal pine-like quality give incredible complexity.
The finish is long and very smoky. The peat grips the tastebuds and does not let go. The bitter and drying ash and bonfire embers characteristics linger nicely, as do the malty and biscuit-like elements. The peppery heat slowly subsides but also elongates the finish. A twist of candied lemon closes things out right at the death.
What’s The Verdict?
This is an excellent whisky and an early contender for our Best Whiskies of 2026 list. The Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength is superbly well balanced and surprisingly drinkable at such a high ABV (remember, it is a whopping 61.7%!). It offers a wealth of character and a sublime marriage between the sweet notes and bold, savoury peat smoke. This is a sure fire hit.
For us, it also feels like a whisky that confirms Ardbeg’s return to form after several years of experimentation amidst a hectic release programme. This is a whisky that sees the Islay distillery almost go ‘back to basics’ and give fans of the brand – its Committee memebers – what they want. Long may it continue. Grab a bottle while you can. It is great.
