Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 YR *I would like to start my review with a disclaimer. My pecking order of Islay Whisky so far goes Laphroaig, Lagavulin, Talisker, and Bruichladdich (in any order you want) followed by Ardbeg in a distant 5th. That seems to be at odds with a lot of Distiller Users' opinions, so take the following review with that in mind. *NOSE: Upfront? Pleasantly Peaty with Sea Air, and Old Campfire Ash. Background? Tangy Fruits. Lemon, Apple, Pear, and Peach with a hint of florality. *NEAT: The first pour I had of this was more Sweet with S'mores, Werther's Originals, and hints of fruit (Raisins, Apple, Pear, Peach) meshing very well with the Foundation of Peat and Campfire Ash. Unexpected and unlike most Ardbeg I've tried. The Finish brought notes of Dark Chocolate, Tingling Pepper Spice, and Eucalyptus. A Clingy Medicinal Coating of Novocain (the taste the numbing needle leaves in your mouth) and Ash. Subsequent pours have been more "Ardbegish" in nature with Zingy Lemon Peel taking the lead and pushing the sweeter Chocolates, Caramels, and Fruits to the back. *SPLASH: The Nose and Palate both pick up a Crushed Pineapple note. *VERDICT: I need to go back and try the Ardbeg 10 for reference, but if memory serves, I may enjoy this just a little more. I was expecting super aggressive Peat Harshness, but instead found it complex enough and a decent value for $45. I even enjoyed a pour of this over a large cube of (gasp) ice. Something I don't do with other, pricier Peated Scotches. This actually may be my favorite of the Ardbeg line given its Price and Versatility (I won't think twice about experimenting with this in cocktails). I'm definitely not saying it's the best Ardbeg, just the best one for me (if that makes sense).

I enjoy Islays, including many of Ardbeg's expressions. This one isn't my favorite. Purchased on a lark (along with a bunch of other bottles, nearly all of which are a grand bit richer in nature) I tasted this neat from a glencairn. This is a neck pour and my first exposure to this expression. Essentially I wanted to know what an Ardbeg entry level scotch whisky tastes like. Here's the short of it; it's good but it's weak and watered down. This is Ardbeg light. There's a bit of smoke, not too much iodine, a little bit of malt, some sweetness, and a complete lack of complexity. This tastes like a $40 bottle of scotch with a $60 price tag. I use a simple scale where a 5 is representative of a perfect expression and a 1 is indicative of a wholly substandard product. Statistical distribution tells us that the majority of liquid should score somewhere around a 2.5. This is as average as anything Ardbeg will ever make... I hope.

Heavenly Smokey, drinks like a smoked ham, so good!

Seems like it has potential, but just not the right blend of taste and body. Makes you understand why this should get aged for at least 10 years.