Recommend a step up to Arbeg?

@mywhisky Welcome to the wonderful journey you have discovered. I always look forward to meeting and sharing whisky notes. My best offer to you would be to try out Bunnahabhain 12yr. Great Islay whisky with lowest amount of peat and great price as well. The Ardbeg Ugeadail is a Galelic spelling thats part of the fun you will enjoy on your travels. Hope this is helpful enjoy. :)

I would suggest the Lagavulin Distillers Edition. It is double matured (PX Casks) and therfore fruity while still rather peaty. The same applies for the Talisker Dist. Edition but it is not Islay.

I second @Mammon's recomendations. Can't go wrong with either one of those for a more gentle entry into peaty, smokey whiskies. Compass Box Peat Monster is a good one (it's not a monster and is quite sweet and delicious). Bowmore 12 is also fairly light on the peat.

If you actually want to go to an Ardbeg, it's hard to beat the 10 yr. old. It's a completely different animal to the Uigeadail.

@BlueNote Agreed there. The smoke is really dry and "BBQ-ey" (for lack of a bettter descriptor) and I don't find that it comes with a strong medicinal note. Maybe just a hint of bandages soaked in peach juice =)

One of the best introductions to the full peated Isla Whiskies is the gently peated Ardmore Traditional Cask - 46% abv. non-chill filtered, natural colour and extraordinary value everywhere!

Ardmore is owned by Laphraoig and they proudly promote Ardmore as a stepping stone to the more robust Isla 'drop': Same pedigree as Laphroaig but with less thunder and lightning. I think you would like this value Whisky even though it is a younger expression it is finished in Quarter Casks and tastes great!

I would recommend following approach to heavy peat:

Springbank (CV or 10yo) -> Longrow CV -> Caol Ila 12yo -> Ardbeg / Laphroaig / etc

My experience with real peat was Port Charlotte An Turas Mor. I can highly recommend it! But it's on the heavier peat side of course. But I liked it right away, as opposed to Ardbeg 10yo, which took some time to get used to))

Bowmores are also a gentle step up.

@Max -- Considering Longrow CV is peated to the same level as Ardbeg, shouldn't he go from Caol Ila to Longrow instead of the other way around?

@Mantisking well, probably they share the same ppm number, but for me Longrow is quite a bit milder. and more fruity. especially when mellowed out

Wow! Lots of great suggestions! Thanks everyone, I will start right away.

@mywhisky There is another one I thought might be good for you to try it is a blend called Black Bottle, this might be a step to explore on the road to Islay. I have this one on my wish list but have not yet tried it. :)

@mywhisky

I am going to disagree with everyone and say start with Highland Park 12 year old. I know, I know, it is almost trite to say that it is the great "all rounder" . . . but it kind of is. It does have a little sherry, a little grass, a bit of fruit, and a touch of peat and smoke.

I have found it to be the perfect gateway to Islay. For me I found the peat wonderfully elusive. It made me want more peat and more smoke in my malt. That eventually lead me to the south Islay shore.

After Highland Park 12yo I would take on Talisker, Bowmore, or Caol Ila (or even Ardmore or a peated BenRiach)

A second option with the Ardbeg is to really water it down to about 20% ABV and simply try it like that. I know that I have hooked a number of friends on scotch by simply introducing it at 20% ABV. That is the strength all blenders use to nose samples. Just a thought for the cheap option.

I would agree and start with the 10yr. If you want a less expensive intro to Islay, go with Black Bottle. A great blend without the massive power of Laphroaig/Ardbeg, and can be gotten for about $20US. The Bunnahabhain 12yr would be a wonderful choice as well. I call it "Islay Lite", as it does not have the overwhelming smokiness of others.

If you want a recommendation from a fellow whisky noob who just discovered Uigeadail (and found it to be one of the most wonderful taste experiences ever, any category).

Nikka Taketsuru 12y, if available where you are. It's a Japanese pure malt blend from only two distilleries, one of which uses peat in moderation. The peat in Taketsuru is very subtle, making only small sporadic almost teasing appearances, that in my case triggered a curiosity and "want more" feeling.

Personally I've found Lagavulin 16 more approachable and just as enjoyable.

if your a fan of your sherry then bowmore darkest is a good way to go another one to think about is a peated ardmore just for something a little different. if you are after a little less peat then older islay whiskys will generally tone down the shock a little

I found an accidental solution. I came back to this bottle after about a week and I must say, it is still quite smokey, but the iodine has calmed a little. I tried it again and enjoyed it. I then picked up a bottle of Laphroaig 10 yr since I read that it was almost as much smoke without the sherry, and I tried that without expectation of any desserty flavors; I REALLY enjoyed it. Then I went back to the Ardbeg, and absolutely loved it; what a magic balance of peat and sherry. I actually like these two Islays neat, no water. Now I have gone back to some of my Speysides, and they just don't even interest me much. Once the peat sank in for a few days, I think it may have converted to Islay. I just needed some time for the system shock to calm. Thanks everyone!

@mywhisky Welcome to the dark side. Sadly you are on the peaty road of doom ; ). Naysayers call it a fad or trendy. Others call us "peat freaks". The truth is … it's just so good!

Soon you'll need to pick up the Corry and the Laphroaig 10yo Cask Strength searching for that next peaty high. Then you find yourself paying way too much for a 5yo whisky simply because Octomore is written on the label. Then you will begin scouring the Internet for a bottle of Supernova and secreatly praying to the gods of the peat bog that Ardbeg will do another release. And finally, one chilly night, you will find yourself curled up in a ball on the floor, a peat fire burning in your fire place, sucking on a dried clump of peat while trying to add chunks of peat to your existing single malt because surely we get more then 169 PPM's of peat into a whisky!!

It's all perfectly natural . . . don't fight it . . .

Hahahaha... peat owns me too. Seriously, could it be an addictive substance in peat?! @Nock So it's just downhill from here then? Help me Jebus!

@mywhisky The title of the thread should read "...a step up FROM Ardbeg?" from now on.

'Tis a slippery slope my friends, a slippery slope.

At least as far as I have read on here, IS there a step up from Arbeg? I may have ruined myself.

@mywhisky, to some that question is like "How many angels can you fit on the head of a pin?"

Hey, everyone around here seems to like the journey,...but getting to the destination is good, too!

It has been a delicious journey. I love the peat now, thanks for all your reviews!

@Nock Awesome posting :)

@mywhisky Do you have some updates for us? You were already making some BBQs this winter?

Am I off base for suggesting Highland Park 12 yr?

Very affordable, and a really nice dram!

I'd say give a couple of the bottles from the distilleries; Caol Ila, Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich a go. These distilleries still have a Islay peat influence but much lighter then Ardbeg.

@mywhisky Congratulations on picking the Laphroaig 10. Especially since none of the posts had suggested it. You've proven a point I've made before: you need not tippy-toe from a safe whisky to peat.

Consider a few not yet mentioned here. From Speyside, BenRiach Curiositas 10 year or Benromach Peat Smoke. From Jura, Prophesy. And back to Islay, Bunnahabhain Toiteach.