Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Tons of peaty smoke, but the older ones have better depth and more body. A bit of a sharp finish.

Nose: Applewood smoked ham, apple juice, fresh orchard fruit (red apples, green apples and pear), black pepper, coastal campfire that has been extinguished, seaweed, old seashells, Connecticut wrapper cigar ash, slightly candied lemon peel, cooked basil and parsley, dark chocolate, slight iodine/medicinal note, apples marinated in sherry, fresh cooked bacon, prosciutto cotto, aged malt, spinach and arugula, balsamic vinegar, salt, smoky sea air, light caramel and butterscotch, a touch of oak spice, thyme Palate: Ashy peat, bbq ham, bbq chips, apple sauce, rich apple juice, cigar smoke, cigar ash, green apple skins, old caramel, charred wood, savoury oak charcoal smoke, some green paprika and a touch of Spanish paprika, sweet malt and pear nectar Finish: Charred brisket butts, sweet and savoury charred maple wood, mixed apple skins, a touch of butterscotch, a hint of lemon peel, oak charcoal

I’ve never been a big fan of Ardbeg. The astringency of the 10, for instance, is too little balanced by fruity notes for my taste. So I was surprised by this much cheaper expression from the same distillery. It has the usual pale straw colour and smoky nose, but the iodine notes are more reminiscent of a Talisker. It’s got great legs in the glass, though, which hints at a powerful dram. The first taste is also classic Ardbeg: scratchy lime, scorched turf, and peat smoke, but soon after a pleasing shock of salt sea air with a bit of bonfire ash floating about in it. Then something extraordinary happens: a lovely spreading cacao flavour that holds and holds. Suddenly I’m back at the bus stop in my teens, sucking on a chocolate lime, waiting for that burst of warm sweetness to soothe the acidic pucker. There’s a bit of toffee, too, and a faint ashy note I don’t love, but overall this is the balance I’ve always wanted from Ardbeg. It may be the entry level option, but for my money it’s one of the best.

Nose: sea salt, smoked meat,iodine, citrus zest and a hint of creaminess Palate: dark toffee, meaty peat, brine, a hint of dried fruits, smoke Finish: toffee, pepper, citrus and a big ashy peat that lingers forever The youngness of the already peaty ardbeg lends to something less refined but bolder in many ways. The peat and seawater are absolutely dominating but there is some sweetness and even fruitiness to help and round it out. I'd prefer this to the an oa even, it is definitely something worth trying for a young budget peat bomb.