Distiller Notes
Wine Enthusiast 100 Best Spirits of 2021
#6 Whisky Advocate Top 20 Whiskies of 2020
Ardbeg's Wee Beastie Single Malt Scotch Whisky has a bright, auric appearance. The aromas are very bright, fresh and herbal, with hints of vanilla, pear, freshly cracked black pepper, and honey glazed ham. There are additional notes of rich Turkish coffee and sappy pine resin. A rich, explosive mouthfeel with lots of chocolate, tar, creosote and smoked bacon, followed by a burst of antiseptic lozenges, eucalyptus and more aniseed. A long, salty and mouth coating finish with hints of cocoa, fudge and savory meats.
Proof: 94.8
Professional Ratings
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Whisky Advocate
The youthful age statement may take many scotch drinkers by surprise, but don’t let double-digit bias prevent you from enjoying this exciting yet easy-drinking peat bomb. Salt water and seaweed, smoke and sweet peat tussle on the nose, while vanilla, fresh berries, and ample nuttiness spread out and take hold. The structured, balanced palate is creamy, nutty, and spiced, showcasing brown-sugar bacon, smoked salt, milk chocolate, pepper, and well-integrated oak, all wrapped up like a cigar with flakes of ash and sustained smoke. This precocious youngster shows more complexity than some whiskies twice its age, making it a remarkable find.
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Wine Enthusiast
A distinct mesquite smoke note leads the nose of this Islay single malt. The ferocious palate opens with almond, spicy honey and peat smoke, plus a hint of barbecue sauce twang. Each savory sip finishes warming and intense, laced with eucalyptus, sea salt and cayenne. Released in 2020, this is a permanent addition to the Ardbeg core range.
Best Buy
For over 200 years, Ardbeg has been made on the small, remote Scottish Isle of Islay. Some people travel to Ardbeg along the winding road from Port Ellen. Others follow their nose, their destiny or the advice of a good friend.
The Ardbeg Distillery lies on the rugged southern coast of Islay. Extreme conditions from the Atlantic shape Ardbeg’s unique water supply characteristics. Ardbeg’s soft, pure water comes from Loch Uigeadail, up the hill from the distillery. The Loch is the namesake for Ardbeg Uigeadail. By sitting close to the sea, the whisky also receives a certain salty, iodine character while it matures.
“A good gulp of hot Scotch Whisky at bedtime–it’s not very scientific, but it helps!”
Alexander Fleming, Scottish inventor of penicillin, prescribed it as a cure for the common cold. Today Single Malt Scotch Whiskies are prized by enthusiasts and aficionados the world over for their rarity, age and complexity. By definition these must be produced in Scotland from a single distillery and made entirely from malted barley, using a pot still. The appearance, aroma and flavor of a Single Malt Scotch Whisky can vary widely depending on whether it was produced in the Highlands, Lowlands Islands, Speyside, Islay or Campbelltown regions.