There has been a growing trend for over a decade of fading age statements on scotches as distilleries are feeling a supply crunch from demand of an exploding global market. Brands have replaced their age statements with whiskies more focused on specific flavors, to varying success. So it was a surprise to see a major distillery like Ardbeg release a new core offering that carries an age statement. Even more unusual is that it is a young age. The unofficial benchmark for most single malts to list their age is 10 years, as evidences by the many 10- or 12-year scotches on the market. Going younger, especially to 5 years – only two years over the minimum regulated age required to even be called a whisky in the EU – is even more against the grain. The Wee Beastie is so named to market the rawness of its youth, a bold choice for a bold distillery.
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region: Islay
Age: 5 years
Strength: 47.4%
Price: $44.99
Maturation: ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso casks
Location: Port Ellen
Nose: Peat, brine, smoke, cigar, lemon pith
Palate: Pine, resin, peat, pepper, nut
Finish: Pepper, peat
Comments: Water is not needed.
Adam – For me, this scotch strikes the right note of walking the fine line between being easy enough to be approachable yet interesting enough to reward the attention if you decide to pay it. I like that it is peat-forward, since other expressions like the 10 Year are more smoke (which is also delicious). There is dancing pepper and smoke that’s still here, but that peat paired with the strong pepper along the sides of your tongue is very enjoyable. The unique nutty aspect – and I am not someone who normally identifies a nut flavor very often – transitions to peat on the end with that spark of pepper. These are the flavors of Ardbeg that I love yet repackaged in a new, approachable, satisfying way. At the price point, this might become my Ardbeg bar standard suggestion.
Jenny – On the nose I got the medicinal smell at first but it mellowed out and I got more of the bacon donut, eating the donut on a beach by the fire. On the palate, I get a blast of peppery spice and it’s a little party in my mouth but then it doesn’t continue down off the tongue.
Meghan – The nose of the Wee Beastie gives me everything I want in a whisky: smoky, salty, sweet, and citrusy. There is a delicious cigar smoke smell complimented by whiffs of bacon drizzled with maple syrup. The sea spray is balanced well with the smoke; this is not the cold remains of a bonfire at low tide. It’s meat roasting over a fire while waves casually crash over the rocks. The peat on the nose is well met with the hints of citrus. As it is an Islay, there are hints of antiseptic, creating an eau de lemon furniture polish but in the most pleasant way possible. The nose transitions well into the palate. There is a lot of peat but then, it’s an Ardbeg and if there wasn’t peat, it would be disappointing. The furniture polish transforms to lemon pith. A rounded, golden grain flavor is intriguingly staccatoed by pine resin, something I hadn’t found in any previous Ardbeg. There is also this vegetal green heat, like the smell of a fresh jalapeno pepper. I suspect this is an aspect of the base whisky that often ages out in Ardbeg’s other offerings. Clearly, Ardbeg possesses some kind of magical powers because even though this is a 5-year old whisky at 47.4%, it is not hot. It’s smooth and balanced as though it was a 42% 12 year old. The only thing that gives away the young age is the color: a clear light gold. A lovely color for a delightful dram. It may be young but the Wee Beastie is not a weak Ardbeg 10 (it easily could have been). The flavors are lighter than other Ardbegs but not less intense. Even though there is a strong peat aspect, something that frequently has Scotchology put a whisky in the “winter” column, the brighter flavors might make this the perfect Ardbeg for summer sipping.
[O]pens to a well-balanced meal of caramelized barbeque on the seashore…
Michael – There’s a neat interplay between the heat and the sweetness of it that is reminiscent of jalapeno.
Ben – I want to be in a sunlit room with oak furniture, a fantastic college professor office, maybe with pipe smoke. That’s all Ardbeg is to me and I love all of those things. You’re going through a tunnel with the nose and when you come out the other side you’re not in a place you expected. It’s brighter. It has that lemon and brine and pepper. It’s great. I think it pays off.
Kate – There’s a more medicinal quality to the iodine in the nose here, compared to the 10 yr. The finish is long but far more subtle than an Ardbeg usually is.
Henry – Lemon and sweet, savory smoke (think maple-honey bacon) on the nose opens to a well-balanced meal of caramelized barbeque on the seashore with just a hint of char in the background. This is what I love about Ardbeg. Each one of their offerings is just so evocative, and for this displaced Mainer, nostalgic. The Wee Beastie reminds me of a younger version of their Kildalton. For the price, it’s a must-have.
