Am I alone in hating the Ardbeg 10?

[ayepatz]

Lol. If you think the Ardbeg is peaty, you should try some of the older or cask strength Islays.

If you're looking for something lighter, but still with a bit of peatiness, try exploring some of the other islands - Jura, Skye (Talisker), Arran, Mull (Tobermory, Ledaig), Lewis (Abhainn Dearg), Orkney (Highland Park, Scapa) - or explore the mostly forgotten Campbeltown single malts. Only 3 distilleries are left there now - Springbank, Glengyle (Kilkerran), Glen Scotia - but there used to be many more. (28 in fact!).

If you can track some down there are some truly extraordinary things to experience. I once had an old Springbank at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (a 20 YO, I think...) that tasted like seawater mixed with cough-syrup!