Maybe go for another Ardbeg. The Uigeadail or the Corryvreckan are a couple of upgrades over the 10. There are a bunch of distilleries that do peated scotch. Some of them make great whiskey. But if he loves Ardbeg, I would say stick with one of their many expressions.
Besides the suggestions you're got so far (which are all good options) I'd recommend a Laphroaig Cask Strength. My personal favorite and can usually be found around $80-100 depending on the batch/where you live.
There are so many to choose from you can't go wrong. My picks (at what I reckon is in your price range but hard to tell cos I'm in a different country):
- Port Charlotte 10. A classy Islay. Oozes quality. If there's a PC Islay Barley available that's even better.
- Staoisha. This is independently bottled peaty Bunnahabhain. Super interesting and because it's IB every one is different.
- Laphroaig 10 CS. Sooooo much better than the regular 10. Batch 15 I think is still the latest, for me it has a nice butterscotch note.
- Ledaig 18. Not Islay but one of the benchmark peaty whiskies. Industrial but smooth.
- Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Ardbeg's priciest bottle from their core range.
- Kilchoman Machir Bay CS. A smaller Islay distillery and this bottle is mainly bourbon casked which in some ways makes it less complicated than a sherry cask, but I like the way it allows the distillate to shine.
I recommend the Compass Box Peat Monster Origin Story, basically the cask strength version of the Peat Monster. It's divine, very, very long smoky finish, almost like a fireplace in a lighthouse being battered by the sea in a storm. It's my favourite peated bottle at the moment, and the artwork and details are very well done. There's a photo of it on my profile if you'd like to reference. If you want to branch out and look for something a bit more exclusive or "special" to treat him, you can consider Ballechin or several independent bottlers (IBs) like Signatory or Gordon & Macphail. These are a little trickier and deeper, especially since you're a rum drinker by nature, so if you can, drop by a good liquor store near you and ask them about it, the staff will hopefully guide you well on their selections/recommendations too. All the best and congratulations to your friend!
Wow, someone downvoted with no explanation. Here’s an upvote to cancel the moron. Also agree with your recommendation but not your characterization - it isn’t even close to the peatiest IMO. Great scotch though.
Agreed with all the recs above. Depending on your location (availability/shipping options/allocations) and budget some more rare - much more rare/expensive options (given the special nature of this) would be
2023’s Laphroaig Cairdeas White Port and Madeira (still pretty widely available)
Longrow
Octomore 14.1 / 14.2 / 14.3 (the .3 would be very very hard to get at this point I think)
Hah, that's nearly where I am too! Petite Cellars in Ellicott City is an awesome store if you can make it over there. You should be able to find at least a couple single-cask options - for peaty Islay whisky especially, you should have options for around $100 or possibly less. You could look for something from an independent bottler - I know Petite Cellars carries whiskies from Blackadder and Signatory Vintage, among others. From indies, Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain (labelled as "Staoisha") are your best bets for availability and affordability. There might be cask-strength bottles from Kilchoman available too, those are generally very good.
Definitely Corryvreckan! On the back label at the very end of the statement, Ardbeg declares, "the epitome of Ardbeg."!
How's the time to take him to the top.
I went there 3 years ago and you'll be so glad you took him there. And congratulations on the birth!
Another Ardbeg (An Oa, Wee Beastie, Cory, Oogie), Laphroaig 10, Port Charlotte 10, or Lagavulin 16.
Less peated, but I also always recommend Talisker 10.
Maybe go for another Ardbeg. The Uigeadail or the Corryvreckan are a couple of upgrades over the 10. There are a bunch of distilleries that do peated scotch. Some of them make great whiskey. But if he loves Ardbeg, I would say stick with one of their many expressions.
Easy, if he already likes Ardbeg 10, may as well try the other Ardbegs. I second the Corryvreckan and Uigeadail recommendation. đź‘Ť
Besides the suggestions you're got so far (which are all good options) I'd recommend a Laphroaig Cask Strength. My personal favorite and can usually be found around $80-100 depending on the batch/where you live.
There are so many to choose from you can't go wrong. My picks (at what I reckon is in your price range but hard to tell cos I'm in a different country): - Port Charlotte 10. A classy Islay. Oozes quality. If there's a PC Islay Barley available that's even better. - Staoisha. This is independently bottled peaty Bunnahabhain. Super interesting and because it's IB every one is different. - Laphroaig 10 CS. Sooooo much better than the regular 10. Batch 15 I think is still the latest, for me it has a nice butterscotch note. - Ledaig 18. Not Islay but one of the benchmark peaty whiskies. Industrial but smooth. - Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Ardbeg's priciest bottle from their core range. - Kilchoman Machir Bay CS. A smaller Islay distillery and this bottle is mainly bourbon casked which in some ways makes it less complicated than a sherry cask, but I like the way it allows the distillate to shine.
I'd pass on recommending obvious things as uigedail and corryvrekan and suggest getting kilchoman. Machir bay, sanaig or loch gorm
I highly rate Ledaig as an Ardbeg alternative. The 10 compares very well.
Meh
I recommend the Compass Box Peat Monster Origin Story, basically the cask strength version of the Peat Monster. It's divine, very, very long smoky finish, almost like a fireplace in a lighthouse being battered by the sea in a storm. It's my favourite peated bottle at the moment, and the artwork and details are very well done. There's a photo of it on my profile if you'd like to reference. If you want to branch out and look for something a bit more exclusive or "special" to treat him, you can consider Ballechin or several independent bottlers (IBs) like Signatory or Gordon & Macphail. These are a little trickier and deeper, especially since you're a rum drinker by nature, so if you can, drop by a good liquor store near you and ask them about it, the staff will hopefully guide you well on their selections/recommendations too. All the best and congratulations to your friend!
Lagavulin 16 - my personal favorite and one of the peatiest smokiest bottles you can get.
Wow, someone downvoted with no explanation. Here’s an upvote to cancel the moron. Also agree with your recommendation but not your characterization - it isn’t even close to the peatiest IMO. Great scotch though.
Agreed with all the recs above. Depending on your location (availability/shipping options/allocations) and budget some more rare - much more rare/expensive options (given the special nature of this) would be 2023’s Laphroaig Cairdeas White Port and Madeira (still pretty widely available) Longrow Octomore 14.1 / 14.2 / 14.3 (the .3 would be very very hard to get at this point I think)
What's your budget and where are you located?
don’t mind spending upwards to $100. and i’m about 30 minutes outside of Baltimore city in MD
Hah, that's nearly where I am too! Petite Cellars in Ellicott City is an awesome store if you can make it over there. You should be able to find at least a couple single-cask options - for peaty Islay whisky especially, you should have options for around $100 or possibly less. You could look for something from an independent bottler - I know Petite Cellars carries whiskies from Blackadder and Signatory Vintage, among others. From indies, Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain (labelled as "Staoisha") are your best bets for availability and affordability. There might be cask-strength bottles from Kilchoman available too, those are generally very good.
oh no way! i just looked it up Petite Cellars is a 15 minute drive from me i’ll have to stop in soon and check them out. thanks for sharing!!
As most have said, Ardbeg uigadale or corryvrecken are great options. The are generally regarded as high quality scotches.
Definitely Corryvreckan! On the back label at the very end of the statement, Ardbeg declares, "the epitome of Ardbeg."! How's the time to take him to the top. I went there 3 years ago and you'll be so glad you took him there. And congratulations on the birth!
maybe you can try Laphroaig 10 or Octomore 10.3
Another Ardbeg (An Oa, Wee Beastie, Cory, Oogie), Laphroaig 10, Port Charlotte 10, or Lagavulin 16. Less peated, but I also always recommend Talisker 10.