Dreaming-of-Islay
Ardbeg Wee Beastie
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
March 27, 2020 (edited January 26, 2021)
This may be my first first-to-taste on this site! I went to a Glenmorangie event back in January (feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?), and they brought along a few Ardbegs to try as under-the-table drams. The standouts of the night were the Traigh Bhan and the 2019 Supernova, but they also had a sample of their upcoming Wee Beastie. I got a small pour, so I don't have highly specific tasting notes, but this was a perfectly pleasurable Ardbeg that felt like almost exactly what it is: a younger, punchier Ardbeg 10. Subtracting five years from the age didn't have a huge negative impact in my recollection, although it amped up the smoke, that Islay medicinal note (reminiscent of a young, 5-year-old peated Bunnahabhain I once picked up in Glasgow), and a wide array of herbaceous or grassy flavors. This bottle presents a very straightforward, classic peated whisky profile, and I think it's fairly priced at around $40-45. I'd slightly prefer Lagavulin 8, a close analogue that in rare instances can be found for under $50.
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@Richard-ModernDrinking i just got it as well, approx $45. Nice strategy to take pressure off Uigi, Corry, 10.
...could take the spot of Lap Select for me if it is indeed around $40.
Looking forward to trying this one.
This is finally arriving in the US. $44 at my usual supplier.
@WhiskeyLonghorn I think this is an attempt to alleviate pressure on the rest of the range, primarily the 10. They obviously have more flexibility with the NAS bottlings. But yes, I would imagine there will be less of the 10 available.
@Richard-ModernDrinking sounds like in addition to this it’s time to stock up on Cory, Ugi, and the 10 before they become scarce or go way up in price ala old Glendronach 15 or 18.
Looking forward to this one and the amped up peat and spice.
Looking forward to trying this. The backstory here is that Ardbeg has a big hole in their inventory due to an LVMH production cut some years back. This is designed to ease the pressure on their stocks, which they expect to last through 2024.
@PBMichiganWolverine I think it's hitting the shelves stateside soon but no definite date yet, and I imagine the current pandemic will make the wide release timing very uncertain. But it's not limited thankfully.
@PBMichiganWolverine new core range...
I’m losing track—-didn’t realize this was out. It’s limited or core range ?