Ardbeg Wee Beastie, 5 years old / 47.4% / 0.7l

Ardbeg Wee Beastie debuted in April 2020 as a new entry into the distillery’s core offering.

It is a blend of spirits aged in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks for at least five years, bottled at 47.4% abv and without chill filtration. Mickey Heads, Ardbeg’s manager, who has just announced his retirement, described the new creation as: “Introducing a new whisky to the permanent range is always a big event for a distillery, but Wee Beastie is particularly significant to me as young whisky brings the consumer as close to the still as possible, and for me that is key to the quality of the distillate.” The term “Wee Beastie” is sometimes used in Scotland to refer to small, annoying insects, such as mosquitoes.

Aroma: youth and strength, peat smoke, black pepper, a handful of fresh herbs, pine resin, grilled pork neck, a touch of vanilla and orange oil.

Palate: peat smoke, a bit of ash, pepper, cocoa powder, herbal mixture, heavily smoked bacon, eucalyptus drops, vanilla and a trace of tar.

Finish : medium long, with notes of peat smoke, salted caramel, pepper, barbecue sauce and a touch of oak.