Ardbeg 5 years Wee Beastie "A monster of a dram"

Ardbeg has created a monster... Ardbeg Wee Beastie has matured for just five years, making it the untamed 'enfant terrible' of the whisky world. Where most single malts seek the smoothness and balance of a more mature age, we know that more time in the cask tempers the smokiness that so many whisky lovers seek.Wee Beastie is therefore a 'monster of a dram'. The name is a combination of the Scottish adjective 'wee' (small), with a 'beastie' (small creature with a much bigger attitude), and indicates a creature that is a bit mischievous and wild, a touch fierce and uncontrollable, but in an engaging way. That's the whisky... Five years old, but incredibly powerful and with a firm 'bite'.

Tasting note

Colour

Bright gold

Nose

This scent opens with a particularly fresh and spicy note, with subtle hints of vanilla and pear coming to the fore. In addition, you detect the spicy warmth of fresh black pepper and the deep, rich aromas of Turkish coffee. The fragrance is further enriched by the resinous freshness of pine and the sweet, savoury nuance of honey-glazed ham. When you add water, additional spicy aromas such as vetiver, fennel and anise unfold. Fresh notes of green apple also emerge, complemented by a delicate hint of leather.

Taste

The flavour offers a rich and explosive mouthfeel, brimming with deep notes of chocolate, tar and creosote, complemented by the savoury taste of smoked bacon. Then a powerful burst of cough drops, refreshing eucalyptus and the recognisable spiciness of anise unfolds.

Finish

The finish is long, salty and mouth-filling, with rich notes of cocoa, creamy fudge and savoury meats that linger pleasantly.

Ardbeg Distillery

Ardbeg Distillery is located on the south coast of the island of Islay, famous for its rich whisky tradition. Founded in 1815 by the MacDougall family, Ardbeg has a turbulent history with several closures and re-openings, but has become one of the most highly regarded Islay distilleries.

A distinctive feature of Ardbeg Distillery is its strong peat influence, resulting in whiskies with an intense smokiness and maritime character. The distillery uses traditionally handmade copper pot stills and local peat from the surrounding peat fields, which gives the whiskies their distinctive aromas of smoke, sea salt, and tar, combined with hints of citrus and vanilla.

Ardbeg whiskies are mainly matured in ex-bourbon casks, which ensures a deep and complex flavour. The distillery is also known for its innovative approach, with experimentation in different cask types and maturation processes producing unique and award-winning expressions.

The combination of traditional production methods, an iconic location and an unmistakable flavour profile makes Ardbeg a leading name in the world of Scotch whisky.