Take 6 Ardbegs

Ardbeg 10 Year Old
(46% abv; rrp £37.95)
The backbone of the brand. The fresh, delicate nose belies the peaty beast beneath. Waxy, with aromas of gentian violets, citrus, pepper and wood smoke, giving way to a complex sea-spray and salt, molasses, asphalt, strong coffee and a tobacco palate that somehow manages to delicately pack an almighty punch.

Ardbeg Blasda
(40% abv; rrp £45.99)
Medium peated, this one stands out on its own in terms of style. Chill-filtered and more obviously delicate and restrained in its approach, there are hints of wild heather, straw, rock pool and apple on the nose. The palate has pineapple, melon, mint, salt and sea. Blasda deserves some quiet contemplation far from the madding crowd.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan
(57.2% abv; rrp £61.49)
A dirty, mucky, Machiavellian malt with a devil-may-care bullishness and a take-me-or-leave-me untamed attitude. Here you'll find cigars, boot polish and tar, along with aromas of newly cut wood and earthy forest floor. The palate is gutsy, peppery, spicy and dry.

Ardbeg Supernova 2010
(60.1% abv; rrp £79.99)
The most heavily peated that Ardbeg has released at 60.1% abv, but surprisingly the most closed on the nose. Wet purple heather, sea spray, Germolene and a hint of rose petal on the nose. The palate explodes in the mouth with a heated complexity of weight and delicately balanced sea salt, pepper and mouthwash flavours.

Ardbeg Rollercoaster
(57.3% abv; rrp £50)
Made to celebrate 10 years of the Ardbeg Committee, with the production of 15,000 bottles (of which there are only around 100 left). The nose has aromas of sea spray, soap, toothpaste, cocoa, cherry, marzipan and boot polish. There is a slight candied sweetness on top of a smouldering bonfire and gunpowder-noted palate.

Ardbeg Uigeadail
(54.2% abv; rrp £49.99)
This has the ability to transfer you northwards right to the heart of an Islay autumn evening. Rich, dense, leafy wood smoke, cigars, leather, warm spicy notes, creosote, sand and sea. It gives you the warmest fatherly hug, with its full and generous big-bellied currant and marzipan, spicy, spirited flavours.

www.ardbeg.com

• Sommeliers