The Mash & Drum EP27: Laphroaig 10 vs Ardbeg 10

[@birddog2017]

Ardbeg 10 is like a seductive siren song that lures you with a promise to meet all your appetites. Laphroaig 10 grabs you by the chest hairs, smacks you around a bit, and says, " Good enough for you, fella." Fun review. I'm happy that you finally got to the Big Poppa of the peat world. As a peat head, Laphroaig 10 is always my #1.

[@TheMashandDrum]

Couldn't have said it better! Cheers!

[@dant1349]

Well said! Both are amazing whiskies. I’m also a sucker for the Port Charlotte Islay Barley from Bruichladdich. It reminds me of a slightly less iodine-heavy, slightly citrusy Laphroaig 10.

[@drgallup]

Laphroaig 10 was the Islay Scotch that took me the longest to warm up too. I bought a bottle when I was 42 and I didn't like it until I was 52. Lagavulin and Ardbeg are a lot easier to like. I still drink more Ardbeg than the other two. The Ardbeg Wee Beastie is a nice new release. Young but bright shiny flavors.

[@DropTheBunny]

Ive been drinking Scotch and Bourbon for about 10 years now. Ardbeg was my first love, and still my go-to. Laphroaig is still great, but doesnt hold a candle to Ardbeg in my humble opinion.

[@TheMashandDrum]

I tend to agree. The ardbegs I've had just lights up my palate. I love it! Cheers.

[@DropTheBunny]

@@TheMashandDrum I got a bottle of Correyvrekan for Valentines day. Intense is a good word for it haha. Great stuff. Love your channel! Keep it up!

[@TheMashandDrum]

@@DropTheBunny thanks. I just had a dram of the Corrvy about 30 minutes ago. Planning on a core range of Ardbeg video. Stay tuned. Thanks for the kind words!

[@DropTheBunny]

@@TheMashandDrum I look forward to it!

[@twontonamo]

I'm in the Ardbeg camp myself. Absolutely love it, looking forward to exploring their other offerings.

[@danielwa4819]

As a Laphroaig drinker, Ardbeg tastes a little bit too spicy/peppery. If I want something similar that tastes more like smoked bacon, then Port Charlotte would be my go-to.

[@FlightOfTheCondoors]

Laphroaig 10 was my introduction into peated scotch. One of my favorites. This makes me want another bottle

[@javieracosta3439]

I am on my third bottle of Lap 10 though my collection skews towards bourbon I have not purchased as many of a particular bottle of bourbon. I simply want this available at all times.

[@macallanfinerare2552]

Caramel coloured (Laphroaig) versus non coloured (Ardbeg), no use comparing them in that respect.

[@llcoolmartine]

Yes its common knowledge now that unless it’s claimed that they don’t use colouring you can assume it’s used. Of the big ones I can only think of Macallan and Ardbeg which don’t use E150a.

[@DaLeadBull]

@@llcoolmartine Also Highland Park.

[@tobelieve627]

@@llcoolmartine many of them don’t add color, got to read the label. I won’t buy any more of the ones with color added.

[@javieracosta3439]

They can put purple food coloring in them and as long as the flavor isn't effected Im still reaching for my Laphroaig.

[@mcmh9523]

Ardbeg started using E150 a while ago, just to let you know

[@baconator1550]

Just did this tasting with you. Fantastic job BTW… I enjoy the ardbeg more than the Laphroaig. It is sooo close! But Ardbeg is slightly less medicinal which gives it the edge. Love them both. Branching out from bourbon!!

[@trhoads07]

I didn't like Laphroaig the last time I tried it but that was a while ago, maybe it is time to give it another chance. Great review! Ardbeg 10 for me is Saturday Night at the drag strip with burning rubber and the old school pink band aids. Two great memories. And I agree, hiding behind the smoke of almost any Islay whisky is the true magic.

[@TheMashandDrum]

The magic behind the smoke. So true! Both are awesome but the ardbeg smoke for me and the crispy bacon is hard to beat. Thanks for watching.

[@bourbonbrofessor9938]

Tom R never connected the dragstrip. Great call that could explain my attraction to this whiskey!

[@bourbonbrofessor9938]

@@TheMashandDrum now I want to pair Ardbeg and bacon! Mmm bacon..

[@johnzajac9849]

Here’s a suggested progression to get to Laphroiag: 1. Jura 2. Springbank 3. Talisker 4. Caol Ila 5. Ardbeg ('The name Ardbeg is an anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic An Àird Bheag, meaning The Small Promontory.')

[@renatoaschoen]

Slaintè Jason. Great review!!! The Laphroaig 10 will turn more melow and sweet as the bottle goes down. Check the smell that stays in the empty glass off Laproaig. There you'll find more of the medicinal bandaid note. Just for the record, try the Lore against the Ugedail and the Lagavulin 16... It will be a major upgrade in scale of complexes peated scotches. Congratulations!!!

[@TheMashandDrum]

Thanks! Trying all of those is in the pipeline and I can't be more excited. Thanks for watching and for the recommendation. Slainte!

[@ThreeToesofFury]

As one who loves and pretty much only drinks Islay's i can say: Both are outstanding choices! It is worth noting that Laphroaig's price varies and has gone up a LOT in my area....months ago it was pretty much $50....these days alot of stores are pushing it to $70...im sure this has to do with the tax/tarrif stuff for Scotches but $70 feels like its pricing itself out of regular drinking.

[@physics2112]

If memory serves, Ardbeg doesn't add caramel color to any of its expressions but Laphroaig does. Is this true?

[@TheMashandDrum]

Yes. From what I read Laphroaig does and Ardbeg does not which explains the color difference.

[@Gachain]

Very Nice detailed comparison Jason. I have an Ardbeg 10 that I picked up a couple of weeks ago, waiting for a chilly night to open it and tonight will be in the 30s here in Brooklyn so I may pop it tonight. I attended an ArdBeg tasting on 11/14, so I have sampled the range, but I prefer sitting quietly with a glass to get the full experience. I also got a Laphroaig Cairdeas at a tasting 2 weeks ago, so I looking forward to enjoying that as well. Enjoyed the review!! SLÁINTE Mike

[@matthewkodamaADG]

The microphone sensitivity is grossing me out. Otherwise great review video.

[@leojanuszewski1019]

Agreed

[@themaltedmancave9499]

Awesome comparison video! Ardbeg 10 takes the cake for me...I enjoy the Ardbeg flavor of peat better then Laphroaig. Don't get me wrong I still love a lot of Laphroaig whiskies:)

[@TheMashandDrum]

Yeah man. Something about the Ardbeg. Once I tasted bacon I was sold. Lol. Cheers

[@siddeshbandekar1913]

@@TheMashandDrum Not sure about bacon but the earthenware flavors drives me mad that grassy notes Man ❤️ Ardbeg is the type of whiskey u should take to MARS 🥰

[@samuelrodriguez6707]

You said it best towards the end of your video…you said, “the more I try these, the more I love them.” Thats exactly me. The peatiest scotch I had had prior to this was Highland Park 12 (which I love)….but I didn’t like Ardbeg 10 at first. I thought it smelled and tasted like a box of bandaids. But as I finished my glass…by the end I was starting to enjoy it. The second glass, I got more balance. It’s that my pallet had never tried something this intense. Not for beginners.

[@Amarth13]

Laphroaig was the first scotch that I liked right away, still my favorite after 5 years. Just sucks that where I am in Oklahoma it's hard to find.

[@jamesnorwood4084]

Unlike bourbon, pour the dram and let it sit awhile. Give it a chance to open up well and then start the sip. You really have to sneak up on it and it will surprise you. There is a very good Y.T. vid on the Laphroaig distillery. I found it to be very informative and quite a treat to watch.

[@eyemallears2647]

Amazingly “burnt rubber” and “medicinal/iodine” are tasting notes I LOVE. PS. Give us a fast paradiddlediddle at the start of the next vid! 😅

[@donarmando916]

Some people say Laphroaig it's peat and not much behind it, but i disagree. I find it a complex whisky and i find it interesting.

[@francescborrull9342]

I had this two (with others) in a tasting last weekend. As I said in a twitter of yours, I was not a fan of the 'medicine like' flavors of these two. The Laphroaig, as it says in the label, is the "most richly flavored Scotch." I found that to be very true. Despite this negative medicine like experience of mine, I would chose the Laphroaig over the Ardbeg. Actually, it was the Laphroaig Quarter Cask. Thanks for ANOTHER excellent review. I am glad I found your channel. Keep up the great work!!!

[@francescborrull9342]

I believe the 'medicine like' is more known as 'iodine' ...

[@TheMashandDrum]

@@francescborrull9342 yeah it I can see that. The amazing thing is the sweet beyond all the smoke.

[@francescborrull9342]

@@TheMashandDrum Laphroaig 10 is on sale for $40, so I guess I will have to get me one and keep 'learning' from it ...!

[@nicksinderson3302]

Love the Ardbeg 10, have yet to try the laphroaig 12 but looking forward getting a bottle. I woke this morning to the salty maple syrup bacon note from my empty glass from the night before. The empty glass was in the next room 15 to 20' from the bedroom...it is just a flavor bomb, peated whiskey is otherworldly world when it comes to flavor(s). Looking to getting the higher proof Ardbegs.

[@JohnGrove310]

I'm a Lagavulin and Laphroaig guy. Ardbeg has a funky smoke that i don't like... which incidentally is recaptured by Laphroaig in its quarter cask.

[@tgreene4357]

Excellent review of the Laphroaig 10. I’m working my way through a bottle of the cask strength right now, but I always keep a few bottles of the standard 10 on hand. Cheers! (Subscribed)

[@TheMashandDrum]

Thanks so much! This was a fun one. Can't wait to try the islays at a higher abv. Flavors must be off the charts. Cheers!

[@barrywilson2409]

Great review of a couple of legends!

[@primewhisky]

Great review👍🏻 So weired that here in Europe it is only 40% ABV😢

[@hatchid3769]

"I'm gonna go for one more sip here" is me every time I try any of them

[@knappjs]

Good one Jason. I'd be interested to see you do these in a blind tasting to see if the results would be the same. I guess youd have to be careful not to look at the color difference though

[@TheMashandDrum]

Yeah that is coming up at some point. Would really like to do it with the higher abv ones as well. Once I try more of these I will definitely be doing a blind. Thanks for watching. And yes the fact that Laphroaig uses color is kind of a giveaway. Cheers.

[@richb8636]

Prefer Ardbeg 10. Here in the UK Laphroaig is bottled at 40% (the legal minimum) compared to Ardbeg which is bottled at 46%. Plus Ardbeg is non chill filtered and has no colour added. No contest!

[@SippersSocialClub]

I love peat battles! Awesome stuff! I'd give the edge to Ardbeg 10 to, but just slightly. Cheers!

[@TheMashandDrum]

Yeah it was slightly ahead. The Ardbeg smoke and flavor has something about it. Cheers!

[@radiohead1911]

I prefer Ardbeg and Lag over froick at the moment. Give me six months that could change :). Also digging Fiddick fire and cane right now. I know, I know, I know...Blasphemy for Islay heads, but I don’t care. On my second and hopefully not last bottle. Just damn good. Keep up the awesome review and channel. Cheers!!!

[@TheMashandDrum]

Thanks buddy. Fire and cane I liked. It got really sweet as it opened up but yeah..peat heads find it kinda weak. Lol.

[@dant1349]

As a bourbon lover, if you get the chance, you’ve got to try the Laphroaig 18. It’s pretty pricey, but it’s much more vanilla forward, with a cleaner smoke taste. Really tasty (I’ve found it reasonably priced at some whiskey bars). Much easier to find though, the Ardbeg Uigeadail is amazing. Heavier, tarry smoke, sweet sherry, and a little chili spice on top of the citrus and barbecue of the Ardbeg 10. Cheers!

[@TheMashandDrum]

The uigedahl is already in my plans along with the Correvyekan. I can't wait to try them. Thanks for watching and for the recommendations. Cheers!

[@violentmeadow]

I prefer the taste of Laphroaig 10 over Ardbeg 10, I do love Ardbeg An Oa which has the smoky sweetness I think the 10 is missing and comes with a little higher abv

[@TheMashandDrum]

I think the slightly higher abv and sweeter smoke is what gave the ardbeg the edge for me. I'm noticing when these open up a bit the flavors get a little sweeter so looking forward to see how the Laphroaig changes. Amazing bottles. Cheers!

[@violentmeadow]

@@TheMashandDrum I'll been in Boston this week hunting for Laphroaig Cask Strength, I have found it there for as little as $55

[@TheMashandDrum]

@@violentmeadow wow. I would love to try that eventually. Can't wait to try these at cask strength. Happy hunting!

[@violentmeadow]

There I am, a bottle of An Oa already in my room and a bottle of cask strength Laphroaig in my hand and I see it Bookers 5/16 off your rocker for $52. I had to put the Laproaig back and buy the Bookers. I have never seen it for less than $70.

[@mybourbonjourney]

Cheers buddy! Great head to head. I'm on a ride to dirty earth, lol I'll never forget my first time with peat. Great review and info into the distillery. Cheers!

[@TheMashandDrum]

Yes it is! Lol. Thanks man.

[@xiamengbaby]

If Laphroaig was bottled at 46% abv unchillfiltered and no coloring, it'd be a much fairer fight.

[@thewolfofgod3908]

They say we can't tell the difference in taste from filtering or color. Like most couldn't pick a blended vs Single malt.

[@jasonfisk1568]

Nice one J! Great fun watching you experience these whiskies, picking em apart and translating the experience. I think you’ll convert some bourbon lovers, or at the very least pique their interest to try scotch whisky. Cheers!

[@TheMashandDrum]

I think so. I'm planning a top 5 scotches for bourbon lovers video. I think I have enough under my belt where I could pick some good ones for bourbon lovers looking to try them. Thanks for watching as usual buddy. Cheers!

[@Thewhiteranger6969]

Ardbeg all the way, the Laphroaig is decent, but needs to be bottled at a higher abv, in my opinion.

[@graemeyoung5280]

Jason that was a great review love the comparison of these two classics. Huge fan of the whiskies and a huge fan of your channel! Wait til you try a LORE!! Tie your hat on tight!!

[@NoNonsenseWhisky]

Great review! For me, the Ardbeg beats the laphroaig hands down but I know a lot of people think different. Have you tried the laphroaig quarter cask

[@TheMashandDrum]

Thanks. Not yet but I have so many now I want to try. Lol. Definitely want to get I to more Ardbeg, Lagavulin and Laphroaigs. Can't wait to see how these taste at a higher abv.

[@kc-vf4lp]

Ardbeg all day👌

[@TheWhiskyExplorer]

Nice comp! My buddy is a huge Ardbeg fan. Too peaty for my palate. So interesting that you find sweetness at the end of the Ardbeg! My palate is probs overwhelmed with the smoke.

[@WhiskeyQuests]

I’m sure if Christina sees this. She would be proud lol. I want to try Laphroaig 10. It will be next on my peaty adventure. As always great review bud!

[@TheMashandDrum]

Thanks man! It's intense. But the sweet flavors that show up are amazing. Cheers.

[@nicholasjojola317]

Ardbeg is Mozart, Laphroaig is Beethoven

[@bamit1515]

Love your reviews keep em coming .. good to know you also found the BBQ 🍖 note on ardbeg 😁

[@fortyofforty5257]

Laphroaig is colored with a bit of caramel coloring. It's hard to judge anything by the color.

[@apudegeest]

We get laphroaig 10 at 40 %, for me its an obvious lose against ardbeg 10. Legend, made me a scotch head

[@TheMashandDrum]

Yeah. The ardbeg is just delicious. Diving into more are ardbeg soon. Can't wait. Cheers

[@apudegeest]

@@TheMashandDrum obvious follow up, probably uigeadail. If you ever see bowmore tempest 10 yr. Batch 1,2 or 3 in america. Buy it (max 75 dollar). Beautiful islay cask strength bottle. Forget other batches

[@TheMashandDrum]

@@apudegeest I've heard the ugeidal And Correvyekan. Will definitely keep an eye out for the other recommendations. Appreciate that.

[@eyemallears2647]

Isn’t the laphroaig 10 ARTIFICIALLY COLOURED?

[@bourbonbrofessor9938]

Well done Sir. Not tried Laphroaig but I do like Ardbeg 10! Peat smoke and bandaid..

[@TheMashandDrum]

Laphroaig was a really different experience for me. Makes these islays so interesting. Let me know if you try it. Cheers!

[@bourbonbrofessor9938]

@@TheMashandDrum I agree they are interesting..a bit more than bourbon overall. I have videos up..would welcome your opinion.

[@TheMashandDrum]

@@bourbonbrofessor9938 will check them out! Thanks

[@bourbonbrofessor9938]

@@TheMashandDrum No thank you..

[@bourbonbrofessor9938]

@@TheMashandDrum Just posted Ardbeg and bacon video. You may like it.

[@jesseregenauer630]

Laphroaig Select is a non colored NAS version that I tend to favor over the 10 yr expression (still love that one too though). Ardbeg 10 year was my first heavy peat scotch and remains one of my favorites.... SLAINTE!

[@TheMashandDrum]

Slainte! Ive had more Laphroaig since and liking it a bit more.

[@kc-vf4lp]

Ardbeg gives me the best whiskey buzz no other whiskey gives me. So good 👍

[@moose7611]

ARDBEG!

[@DaLeadBull]

That's not a little pour my friend. lol

[@LettuceNeck]

I thought the same...lol

[@carlh4350]

I can't comprehend how anyone could enjoy the flavor of sucking on a bandaid. But to each their own. It's probably a good thing we dont all like the same things. There would never be anything on the shelves. I'll stick with bourbon. Nice review though.

[@TheMashandDrum]

Thanks Carl. That question was why I wanted to start trying these. Yes the medicinal aroma is off putting especially for a bourbon guy...but the sweet flavors that appear after the peat is what intrigued me. Thanks for watching!

[@jasoncoates1835]

Is it really that much stranger than enjoying the flavor of sucking on a burnt oak plank? Both are a bit of an acquired taste and there's no rule that says you have to like either or both, but there's not much point in denigrating one simply because you prefer the other.

[@alexk3088]

I can't comprehend it either, and I'm one of those people 😁 Band-Aids don't really smell like that to me. I'd say peat smells like ichtammol ointment 😋

[@tommyrq180]

Comprehend humanity. We come in various shapes, sizes, and with varying preferences. I was blown away by my first taste of Laphroaig in an RAF fighter bar. It was their unit scotch. I own a piece of the distillery (and so can you). Although I’m mostly an Islay guy, Laphroaig is number one, Ardbeg two, Lagavulin three. L10 is a kick straight in the groin with a finish lasting HOURS. It’s the blue collar whisky, whereas the others are tending to the more refined side of the tracks. L10 is a bar fight, A10 is like being in a bar when there’s a fight, and Lag 16 is more like watching a pay-per-view fight. FYSA, in general, aging takes the edge off the peat/smoke, reducing the intensity of the groin kick, hence the popularity of L10.