Ardbeg 10: should I do it?

[Megawatt]

I have some birthday money with which I would like to buy an exceptional bottle of whisky. I finally got to try Ardbeg 10 last week and was very impressed, so I am tempted to blow my stash on a bottle.

Here is the thing: the price recently went from $77 to $99 per 750ml in Ontario, making it probably the most expensive 10-year-old around. Would I be insane to buy this?

I am also looking at The Glenlivet Nadurra ($81), and Longmorn 16 ($98). Really my budget should be around $80, but of course I can stretch it a little.

[smokinjoe]

Happy Birthday, Mega. Skip the Ardbeg, and spend your cash on a nice bottle of bourbon. Tons of great recommendations for you, up in the bourbon section. Heck, you'll be able to afford 2 or 3 superior bottles, for what you're willing to part with for the Ardbeg.

[Megawatt]

Happy Birthday, Mega. Skip the Ardbeg, and spend your cash on a nice bottle of bourbon. Tons of great recommendations for you, up in the bourbon section. Heck, you'll be able to afford 2 or 3 superior bottles, for what you're willing to part with for the Ardbeg.

Here are the bourbons available to me: Knob Creek, Woodford Reserve, Corner Creek (all $45), Bulleit ($35)...I think that's about it.

[smokinjoe]

Don't fear, you're still way ahead of the Ardbeg with those options, limited as they may be. You still can get 2 superior bottles from that group. If it were me, I'd go Woodford and Bulliet, and grab a couple of beers with the leftover change. However, I'm tempted to suggest Corner Creek, as I have a particular fondness for it's minty goodness. In the end, you won't go wrong by getting any two of them.

[Megawatt]

Don't fear, you're still way ahead of the Ardbeg with those options, limited as they may be. You still can get 2 superior bottles from that group. If it were me, I'd go Woodford and Bulliet, and grab a couple of beers with the leftover change. However, I'm tempted to suggest Corner Creek, as I have a particular fondness for it's minty goodness. In the end, you won't go wrong by getting any two of them.

Not an Islay fan, I take it? I like Knob Creek and Bulleit is not bad either, but they don't exactly qualify as special occasion sippers, if you know what I mean.

[cowdery]

If you are a fan of the Islay style, then nothing else will do, and I've been impressed with Ardbeg, as their attitude across the board seems to be "go big or go home."

[smokinjoe]

No, not at all. I like Islays, well enough. I just think that all of the bourbon choices you listed trump the Ardbeg for any occasion.

[Frodo]

I am also looking at The Glenlivet Nadurra ($81), and Longmorn 16 ($98). Really my budget should be around $80, but of course I can stretch it a little.

My advice is to pass on the Longmorn 16 @ $98. No-one I know has anything good to say about the value of this product although comparisons to the 15yr @ $55 probably predispose people to a negative comparion. I tried it and was unimpressed.

I consider the Nadurra to be one of the best values at the LCBO - this coming from an Ardbeg fan. The 10yr is worth the coin IMHO, but the Nadurra is better value.

[OscarV]

I have some birthday money with which I would like to buy an exceptional bottle of whisky. I finally got to try Ardbeg 10 last week and was very impressed, so I am tempted to blow my stash on a bottle.

Here is the thing: the price recently went from $77 to $99 per 750ml in Ontario, making it probably the most expensive 10-year-old around. Would I be insane to buy this?

I am also looking at The Glenlivet Nadurra ($81), and Longmorn 16 ($98). Really my budget should be around $80, but of course I can stretch it a little.

C'mon Man, it is your Birthday money.
I can get you a Laphroaig 30yo here in MI for $599.00 plus 6% sales tax plus shipping.

[Megawatt]

Actually I had Longmorn 16 last week and thought it was fantastic. Whether it was as good or better than the 15, hard to say without directly comparing them, but I agree that the 16 is awful pricey.

In the end, the decision was made for me: Ardbeg is all sold out around here, and I found a bottle of The Glenlivet Nadurra at $16 off! On my first glass of it now. I'd be hard-pressed to say whether this is Scotch or bourbon if I didn't already know. In fact I'd probably say bourbon. Crazy.