Ardbeg Wee Beastie

This is a tasty scotch. Great peat, spice, and oak. Young, but that lends itselft to the the fun experience. The sherry is a great addition to the creosote of Ardbeg. A great dram! I actually enjoy the 10 year better, but I can see how this excites so many!

Quick hit review. I went into our local liquor store to try out the Ardbeg Scorch however it appears that COVID is impacting even Ardbeg as the tasting is delayed here until the end of the month. Anyhow i saw this one and got to try a dram. Not bad for a 5 year. Quite punchy tar and salty peat flavours. You can definitely taste the youth on the aftertaste as it's short and simple compared to the initial hit. I couldn't see myself drinking to much of this or buying a bottle as I but definitely wouldn't turn down a dram or two either. Out of the 18 Ardbegs I've tried I'd rate it above the An Oa std release but that's it. So 17th place :-)

At 5 years, you can tell this one hasn’t got any frontal lobes, yet, but it’s not bad for the price. Has a nose of Texas smoked brisket and fruit, with a bit of vanilla. Pale amber in appearance. Tastes of brown sugar and grilled apples on the front end, with some peat smoke. This gives way quicker than I’d like, to leather and a salt, and kind of bitter orange peel on the tail, which sticks around. I’ll have it again.

The best 5 year I’ve tasted. Blows away many 10 and 15 year whisky’s I’ve had. Salty, peaty, and meaty!

Immediately the colour is darker than the Ten which might be the ex-bourbon casks in the mix. The nose is unique, powerful smoked brine. There’s a familiar nature of citrus, spice and pear but there and additional taste of raisin and dried fruit. The Wee beastie has less smoothness and packs a bigger punch than the Ten. Although I think I’d prefer the Ten if forced to choose I do think this little beast will be repurchased many times over.