Ardbeg Wee Beastie, the newest and youngest addition to their core range, is a young whisky by most core expression standards, being only 5 years old. Despite its youth, it packs a punch and is touted as the rawest and smokiest Ardbeg ever. Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, this expression delivers a complex blend of chocolate, creosote, tar, smoked bacon, cracked black pepper, salty sea air, and lingering smoke. It’s not for the faint of heart!
Available in 70cl bottles at 47.4% ABV (non-chill-filtered).
Check out the rest of the Ardbeg range.
TASTING NOTES
APPEARANCE
Bright Gold
NOSE
The first sniff alerts you to a nearby presence… heightened senses are filled with very bright, fresh herbal notes, with creeping hints of vanilla and pear. Rich Turkish coffee mingles with sappy pine resin, with honey-glazed ham lurking in the background. With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel captivate and pull you in, while beguiling scents of aniseed, green apple and leather cause you to drop your guard. Out of nowhere, a sharp tang of smoke and a crack of fresh black pepper fire warning shots across the senses.
TASTE
Suddenly, a rich, explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. A powerful blast of eucalyptus thrashes about with antiseptic lozenges and aniseed. The raw, smoky intensity gathers pace, before smoked bacon and savoury meats sink into the palate.
FINISH
The long, salty mouthcoating finish retreats, with hints of cocoa and fudge slinking slowly away.
