Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Nice to discover lots of note to discover

(WoodWinters Glenmorangie/Ardbeg Online Zoom tasting, 9th December 2020. Hosted by Brendan McCarron, Head of Maturing Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie). Nose: Boggy, sweet and meaty. Salt/brine with a rotting seaweed hint. Underneath, you can pick out some vanilla, pear and apple. Palate: Salt/brine - seaside notes. Sweet orchard fruit. Damp earth, wood and peat. There's a meatiness and a hint of engine oil throughout. Finish: Stays sweet all through with more salt and bog all the way to the end. On the aftertaste there is a souring which does show its youth. This is a tasty dram. It's like a more fiery 10y/o. I really rather liked this for its unabashed rawness. 55ppm or above at malting. Wooden washbacks at distillation. Aged in a combination of Oloroso sherry and ex-bourbon casks.