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Whisky Review: Ardbeg Wee Beastie

We review Ardbeg Wee Beastie, a five year old Scotch single malt whisky that's super peaty and the latest permanent expression to this Islay distillery's line up.

OVERALL RATING

8
$47.00
  • Courtney Kristjana is a leading US whiskey taster and aspiring Master of Scotch.
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Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Tasting Notes

About:

47.4% ABV. Non-chill filtered single malt aged 5 years in ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts. 750ml $47.
Appearance:
Fair blonde.
Nose:
Smoked brisket burnt ends with a sweet touch of tangy barbecue sauce is the first thing I notice. Apple skin and apple blossom mix with herbal mint tea. The faintest of faint vanilla bean mixes with a struck match.
Palate:
Sweet spun sugar hits the tongue first, then fresh green apple takes over. The smoke is there from the peat, but it is underwhelming. Bland wood and leather fill in the middle. While there is a hint of salinity throughout the dram, there is also a touch of spice like cracked black pepper. Soot stays on the tongue during the aftertaste.
Finish:
Comments:
The Ardbeg Wee Beastie is a decent Ardbeg, however it is a little rough around the edges compared to others in their line up. Yes, the whisky creators made a whisky the way they intended, raw and smoky, but it is just a little beast. Maybe I had my expectations too high initially because I assumed that is would taste peaty like a punch to the jaw, but I was disappointed because I didn’t think there was enough peat. rnrnExpectations aside, there is taste besides the peat, which makes the 5-year-old single malt enjoyable all around. I actually prefer this one on a big cube to smooth it out, but it’s satisfactory neat. I think it could have stayed in the barrel six years versus five, and the Oloroso sherry butts didn’t seem to impart much of a finish. There is a place for this on my home bar, so I hope it finds a place on yours.

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Courtney Kristjana

Courtney Kristjana is a leading whiskey taster in the United States. Inspired by an article on Heather Greene, she left her career in Gerontology to pursue her passion for whiskey. Currently studying to become a Master of Scotch, Courtney dreams of one day being nominated for the Keepers of the Quaich. Her reviews may be as strong as the peat in her scotch, but she guarantees honesty, integrity, and an open mind.

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