Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Years
After the No Age Statement (NAS) Whiskys (legitimately) earned some criticism in recent years, the Islay distillery Ardbeg dared to take the bold step of releasing a young single malt with an age statement and including it in the standard bottlings.The Ardbeg Wee Beastie is intended as a young, wild and untamed bottling to expand the standard range. After a maturation period of 5 years, it is to be expected that some flavours will not be quite round yet. Incidentally, the Wee replaces the Ardbeg Corryvreckan as Ardbeg's most peated Scotch.
Tasting Notes
Nose
We smell vinegary acidity, black pepper and strong sweet tobacco smoke. The combination somehow reminds us of the rubber of bicycle tyres that have just ridden through barbecue sauce. A little salty liquorice and vanilla bean shine through.
Palate
Darkly burnt smoked bacon with a little sugar first hit the tongue. In the middle are tar, leather and intense peat smoke. As in the nose, saltiness and a nuance of vanilla also resonate here.
Finish
A dry, peaty something lingers forever in the aftertaste.
Thoughts
Marcel 78/100
The Wee Beastie is no gentle introduction to the world of Ardbeg – it comes across wild, raw, and with a sharp distillery character that won’t immediately win everyone over. Those who enjoy intense, unrefined Islay power and are happy to engage in a smoky dance with tarry notes will definitely have a blast here. However, it’s definitely not suited for cozy evenings or whisky beginners.
Sascha 82/100
At just 5 years old, the Ardbeg Wee Beastie presents an unusual, still unfinished structure dominated by peat and smoke notes. The absence of the usual Oloroso sherry cask finish results in a less harmonious overall profile, deliberately smokier and thus somewhat unbalanced. For lovers of complex, powerful Islay whiskies, it still offers interesting facets but demands a mindful tasting.
Value for Money: Good
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How does the Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Years differ from older Ardbeg releases?
The Wee Beastie is significantly younger at 5 years compared to many other Ardbeg whiskies. As a result, it shows a fresher, somewhat more unruly aromatic profile with intense smokiness and a pronounced peaty note that often appears softer and rounder in older releases.
Why did Ardbeg introduce the Wee Beastie with an age statement, despite many NAS whiskies being criticized?
Ardbeg wanted to bring a young single malt with an age statement to market to expand their core range with a particularly smoky and lively expression. The 5-year age statement signals transparency and sets it apart from the mostly NAS whiskies offered without an age declaration.
Which flavor notes make the Ardbeg Wee Beastie particularly distinctive?
Typical for the Wee Beastie are aromas of vinegar-like acidity, black pepper, sweet tobacco smoke, and salty licorice. On the palate, darkly burnt smoked bacon, tar, leather, and intense peat smoke dominate, accompanied by a subtle vanilla note and a long-lasting dry, peaty bitterness on the finish.