Ardbeg – Wee Beastie 5 Year Old

Ardbeg Wee Beastie is a 5 year old single malt from the Ardbeg distillery on Islay, which John McDougall founded in 1815. Ardbeg is known for a full, smoky character that comes from the peat used to dry the barley. The nose is fresh and spicy, with vanilla, pear, black pepper, Turkish coffee, pine resin and honey-roast ham. A little water brings out herbal notes of verbena and fennel, with aniseed, green apple and leather. The palate is rich, with chocolate, tar, soot and smoked bacon, then cough sweets, eucalyptus and aniseed. The finish is long and salty, with cocoa, fudge and smoked meat.