If you want to understand peated Scotch, start on Islay — the small Hebridean island where barley is dried over peat fires and the whisky comes out smoky, salty and unmistakable. The five bottles below are the classic way in, from a $64.99 Laphroaig 10 to a cask-strength Ardbeg Corryvreckan at $139.99, and every one is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California. Browse the wider Scotch whisky collection for the unpeated side of Scotland too.
Five Islay Malts, From First Peat to Full Strength
- Laphroaig 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky — $64.99. The original Laphroaig, founded in Port Ellen in 1815: 43% ABV (86 proof) for the US market, matured ten years in ex-bourbon American oak, with part of its barley still malted in the distillery's own floor maltings and cold-smoked over peat. Medicinal, briny and bold — the best-value entry to Islay.
- Ardbeg 10 Year Old Scotch Whisky — $76.99. Ardbeg's flagship at 46% ABV (92 proof), peated to around 50–55 ppm, matured ten years in ex-bourbon casks and bottled non chill-filtered. Lemon, lime, dark chocolate and black pepper ride over intense smoky fruit — the bottle peat lovers judge others by.
- Ardbeg Uigeadail Scotch Whisky — $109.99. Pronounced "Oog-a-dal" and named for Ardbeg's peaty water source, this cask-strength malt at 54.2% ABV marries ex-bourbon spirit with old Oloroso sherry casks for raisin and muscovado depth under the smoke. Named World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's 2009 Whisky Bible.
- Lagavulin 16 Year Old Scotch Whisky — $119.99. The benchmark of southern Islay at 43% ABV: at least sixteen years in oak above Lagavulin Bay, founded 1816. Massive peat smoke with iodine, seaweed and a rich underlying sweetness, finishing dry and elegant — the reference point for peated whisky worldwide.
- Ardbeg Corryvreckan Scotch Whisky — $139.99. Ardbeg at full force: 57.1% ABV (114.2 proof), matured in ex-bourbon and new French oak, named for the whirlpool between Islay and Jura. Tarry ropes, creosote, blackcurrant and pepper — the heaviest hitter in Ardbeg's permanent range.
How to Choose Your First Islay Bottle
New to peat? Laphroaig 10 and Ardbeg 10 are the two classic starting points — one medicinal and briny, one citrusy and peppery. Ready for sherry richness, step up to Uigeadail; want age and integration, choose Lagavulin 16; want maximum intensity, Corryvreckan is the end of the road. Add a few drops of water to the cask-strength bottles and the smoke opens into fruit and chocolate. For the allocated end of whiskey, see our rare bourbon guide, browse more reading on the Del Mesa blog, and check our FAQs and shipping policy before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
What does peated Scotch whisky taste like?
Peat smoke from drying malted barley over a peat fire gives Islay whisky notes of smoke, brine, iodine and seaweed, layered over fruit and malt sweetness. Laphroaig and Ardbeg are among the most heavily peated styles.
Which Islay Scotch is best for beginners?
Ardbeg 10 Year Old at $76.99 and Laphroaig 10 Year Old at $64.99 are the classic first bottles — both age-stated, widely loved, and honest examples of Islay peat without cask-strength heat.
What does ppm mean in Scotch whisky?
PPM measures phenol parts per million in the malted barley — a guide to peat intensity. Ardbeg's barley sits around 50–55 ppm, among the highest in Scotland, though cask and age shape how smoky the finished whisky tastes.
Can I buy Islay Scotch online at Del Mesa Liquor?
Yes — all five bottles in this guide are available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, our family-owned store in San Diego, California, subject to shipping eligibility in your state.