Ardbeg
Wee Beastie
- 47.4
- 70cl
- Taste: 4
- Islay
The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815 but there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie...
Read more
Read more
The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815 but there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie Company who, after updating the distillery, fully reopened it the following year. Moet Hennessy brought the whole company in 2004, and built a new still house in 2019, which is now running to capacity of 2.1 million litres of alcohol per year.
This is Wee Beastie, matured in ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks for only 5 years. On tasting, the whisky is not just incredibly smoky, but also surprising well balanced for its age. A must for any Ardbeg fan to try.
Official Tasting Notes
Aroma - Vibrant, fresh herbal notes, adding to subtle hints of vanilla and pear creeping in. Rich Turkish coffee mingles with sappy pine resin, with honey-glazed ham in the background. With water, herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel pull you in. Scents of aniseed, green apple and leather cause you to drop your guard. 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.
This is Wee Beastie, matured in ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks for only 5 years. On tasting, the whisky is not just incredibly smoky, but also surprising well balanced for its age. A must for any Ardbeg fan to try.
Official Tasting Notes
Aroma - Vibrant, fresh herbal notes, adding to subtle hints of vanilla and pear creeping in. Rich Turkish coffee mingles with sappy pine resin, with honey-glazed ham in the background. With water, herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel pull you in. Scents of aniseed, green apple and leather cause you to drop your guard. 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.
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig