Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Nose: Sweet grapes, white stone-fruit, lemon drops, green olive brine, mild peat smoke. There is a machine oil note, wet oily wool and a suggestion of a peat bog as you squelch through it on a rainy day. Adding a dash of water adds depth to the nose without changing the profile. Palate: Sweet, salty and smoky on the arrival in the classic Ardbeg manner with pears, barley sugar and honey on display, but this is a delicate, gentle dram with an initially diaphanous texture. As it develops it veers towards dryness, becomes briny (almost tequila-like for a moment!), more citric and the texture gains body, becoming silky. Reduction with a dash of water brings out more barley sugar but does not turn the palate sour or rubbery, as can often be the case with peated whiskies. Finish: Medium/Long. Salty, smoked citrus-fruit with some pepper. There is a dash of eucalyptus oil and a little bitterness in the aftertaste. This bitterness disappears when the whisky is reduced. Very easy to drink and quite mild in comparison to other peated whiskies, this could arguably be summed up as the subtle and pretty face of Ardbeg. It is definitely youthful but contrary to my expectation the peating level seems quite low. It is not bombastic or raw, which some young peaters can be, but instead it is contained and controlled. I was unsure what reducing it would do but fear not, it is capable of taking water with ease. It does not lose anything but becomes more gentle, soft and sweeter. I like this young Ardbeg a lot. For all its youth it’s quite charming and it would be a very good choice to pour for yourself and a novice to whom you are introducing peated whiskies. As for the name "Wee Beastie" it's an in-joke for sure. This is not at all a monstrous creature, it’s a cute little beastie like Robbie Burns' wee mouse, or the otters that are sometimes seen near the distillery. Tasted from a 30ml sample “Very Good” : 85/100 (4 stars)

Ham and green onions.

Nose : peaty, smoke, gasoline, almonds, salty water, medicinal Palate : spicy (like really spicy), pepper Finish : long, peaty Feels like firing a match and putting it in your mouth. For this price, not sure anything better exists. Started with Laphroaig 10 when I got into whisky a few years ago, and coming back to it now after a big break. Need to try L10 to compare. But damn I love Islays.