Ardbeg’s Wee Beastie

A WHISKY IS WREAKING FLAVOUR IN ITS PATH

At the height of the global pandemic, the Ardbeg Distillery launched their own beast, a 5-year-old feisty and intensely powerful whisky which they claimed was… “untamed by its age”. And they were right. Ardbeg Wee Beastie has been described as a ‘monster of a dram’, with a formidable bite.

When Ardbeg adds a permanent expression to its lineup, it makes waves. It’s the sort of news that generates intrigue and questions alike. How will the peat balance with such a young whisky? How will they tame the beast? Ardbeg has a history of exploring inexplicable legends in their bottlings, however this next unearthly expression is said to have emerged from the peat bogs of Islay themselves.

Matured in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, Wee Beastie is instense, bristling with aromas of cracked black pepper, sappy pine resin and sharp tangs of smoke. An explosive mouthfeel bursts forth with chocolate, creosote and tar. As savoury meats sink into the palate, the long salty mouth coating finish slinks away.

“I’m in no doubt that Ardbeggians will love this tongue-tingling expression. The casks chosen for its creation make it ideal for enjoying neat or as the mouth-watering main ingredient in a powerfully smoky cocktail,” said Ardbeg’s director of whisky creation, Dr Bill Lumsden.

Mickey Heads, Ardbeg distillery manager, agrees, “a new permanent expression in the core range is always momentous for the Distillery, but Wee Beastie is a particularly special dram. As it’s a younger whisky, it means we’re able to get as close to the still as possible. So it’s safe to say this is a ferociously good wee nip!”

TASTING NOTES:

COLOUR: Bright Auric

NOSE: Very bright, fresh and herbal, with hints of vanilla, pear, freshly cracked black pepper, honey-glazed ham. Rich Turkish coffee, sappy pine resin.

With water, more herbal top notes like vetiver and fennel, along with aniseed, green apple and leather.

TASTE: A rich, explosive mouthfeel with lots of chocolate, tar, creosote and smoked bacon, followed by a burst of antiseptic lozenges, eucalyptus and more aniseed.

FINISH: A long, salty and mouthcoating finish with hints of cocoa, fudge and savoury meats. AWARD-WINNING ARDBEG Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky. Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions. Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ twice by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible (2008, 2009) and has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013). At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’. The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100. Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2019, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the third time in four years. Ardbeg 10 Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10-Year-Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery was named the Distillery of the Year 2019.

A CULT CLASSIC MALT

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is known to whisky lovers around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

That following formed itself into an organized force safeguarding the legacy of the whisky in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 100,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.