Jose-Massu-Espinel
Ardbeg BizarreBQ
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
July 10, 2023 (edited November 15, 2023)
It has been a long time since i last truly enjoyed an Ardbeg Special Release. But i can honestly tell you, and i am giving a serious spoiler here, that finally this Islay distillery has given us a worthy whisky.
"Bizarrebq" is one crazy name for a dram, and it is made to resemble a backyard BBQ. Actually, the whole brand has a partnership with the now famous "DJ Bbq", whose videos cooking food with Ardbeg are quite popular. This has been made in Px sherry casks and also in "Ardbeg's BBQ Casks" (???)
Bottled at 50.9%abv, this is a core-limited-edition, which is a contradictory statement but you know how marketing works nowadays.
On the nose, it is spectacular. Spanish curated ham; a pair of new socks and ashes. It smells like a "Pancetta" or a Brisket, cooked with lots of salt to produce a dry part of the meat which is delicious. Ashtray.
On the palate, it starts with salty water than after one second turns into a creme brulee with pepper and Ardbeg's potent swampy-like peatiness. It feels like chewing the head of those "He-man" toys from the 1980s. Moss and caramel; peaty and sweet. Incredible experience.
Aftertaste is good but a little simple and straightforward. Ashes and gunpowder. Salty.
Overall, this was a great and powerful release by Ardbeg. They achieved here exactly what they wanted to: to give you a BBQ experience. This whisky can pair incredible with smoked food. Lovely really. My score for it is a well deserved 93 over 100.
Create Account
or
Sign in
to comment on this review
@Jose-Massu-Espinel totally agree, this was one of the better special releases. And quite affordable as well.