Good and fair review. I’d recommend coming back to it after it’s been open a while and comparing it to other young Peated whiskies such as the Lagavulin 8.
I absolutely loved the wee beastie. For 43$, a whisky of this complexity and depth is quite commendable. I applaud Ardbeg for having the temerity to include a 5 year old age statement on their whisky, which is of course 47%, non-chill filtered and natural color. The nose was enticing and so was the taste. This is not for the un-initiated or for those who are not used to big flavors. Lovers of fruity, speyside or sherry monster highland whiskys will not enjoy this bottling. For those who enjoy a challenging dram that demands time and perseverance, we have another winner from Ardbeg. Sliante Mhath!
it's 35 bucks where I'm at. Everything that you disliked about this scotch has made it more compelling. I bought 2 bottles. Can't wait to try it once my dry week is complete.
It's $35 for me in north Texas too. I think it's by far my least preferred Ardbeg (not that I have tried every expression ever made). I probably won't buy another bottle, but it's an interesting thing of itself.
Thanks for the review guys. Wee Beastie is about US$59 equivalent in Australia. I'm going for it. The 10 can run US$69 equivalent here. Pretty sure it's non-chillfiltered and natural colour.
I actually loved, what I called the dancing spices the first glass I had. It did change from sip to sip, and not so much in an evolving way but more chaotic, but considering its age I didn't mind that too much and the constant for me at least was a blast of pepper on the finish, which I never grew tired of. The brine drifted in and out but I found it refreshing when it did make an appearance. I'll certainly replace this bottle when mine is dry.
@@EddieChubb25694 I'd hesitate to call any whisky the most "anything" just too much I haven't tried. But intense is an accurate descriptor for flavor, nose and finish of this whisky
@@EddieChubb25694 I've had I think 8 pours of it now. It still comes at you full force with that first sip. Might not be as fully flavored as a few other Ardbegs I've had certainly not as harmonious in flavor, but the individual flavors I think stand out more, perhaps due to its youth.
That's it's price, in Spain it should be 35€ but it has been impossible to find by now at any price, so let's see by the next release, I really want to try this one haha
I found this to be a fun and memorable whisky. I would personally buy this before the 10 year just because of the earth tone simplicity and slight sweetness from the sherry. Obviously the sherry is barely noticeable if we don’t really search / I wouldn’t know it had Oloroso if the bottle didn’t say. I’m generally not the type to like nothing but a peat blast... but I’ll take this. I’m excited to start using it for blending with some of my older whiskies!!!! And as Erik Wait said... let it sit for a bit. Or pour the glass and come back 15 or so minutes. But your right it is young and not complex.
Here in Texas I paid $38+tax. It's good, but I'd rather spend the extra $12 on the 10 year. I shot it out against Lagavulin 8 and Kilchoman Machir Bay,.. it held it's own,.. I thought it was a little better than the Lagavulin, but not quite as good as the Kilchoman.
Wow regional liquor pricing is weird. For me this bottle is $35 where the 10 is $45-50. For me it’s an easy buy all day long for a budget peat bomb. I also just appreciate the transparency with actually putting an age statement and owning the aggressive youthfulness as part of the identity of the release as opposed to releasing it as an NAS with a flashy marketing story / packaging and charging double the price. I love it!
When this first came out in my area I paid $35 which I thought was a great price point. It has since gone up to $40 but how many other 47% ABV whiskies can you find at that price point? That being said, if it were the same price as the ten, I’d just buy the ten.
Interesting! Great reviews all around. Looking forward to it myself sometime. Stop by soon - been doing some Flora and Fauna bottles recently and more soon.
Tastes like a young Bruichladdich or Kilchoman at a fairer price to me. I got it for $34.49. My fear is this was partially put out to push the price of the Ten.
It sounds like it would be a perfect choice for the Islay peat component of a Penicillin cocktail (with Monkey Shoulder as the other scotch blended with ginger syrup or a strong ginger beer) or small dram by itself.
The bold flavor profile and unique experience of drinking the Wee Beastie is such that I don’t regret spending the money on the bottle, but I will not buy it again. I don't care for this whiskey very much. This stuff is too young, much too immature, and overly harsh which takes away from the enjoyment of drinking it neat. I find the only way I can tolerate it and round it out is with a big whiskey ice block and a really big pour of water which I hardly ever do. I enjoy the calmer drinkability of the 10 y/o which is much more sensible for the money. I am content to say, “I tried a bottle of Wee Beastie, once” rather than say, “I drink Wee Beastie regularly.”
Love y’all reviews. I just bought it for $50 down here in Louisiana, I found it to be pretty good for what it was. It’s obviously a young whiskey, I feel $40 would’ve been a better price point. I liked it because it’s an Islay, but I agree with 2/4.
I had another dram after watching the video and I didn't get any of the spice you guys were getting. For me is was just a very nice Ardbeg dram. I hope you focus this on the Thursday live show so I can drink along with you guys again. For the price I think this is a very good bottle and I will buy another the next time I see it.
I think that what really throws ya with this one is that it's sherried as well. You've got all that active untamed wacky spirit character, it being only 5 years old, then you've got the heavy peat in there, plus the sherry which makes everything even busier. It's kaleidoscopic, and i don't care how much i sound like a pretentious douche by saying that, i don't have a better description. There really is very much going on.
Great review! I'm very much enjoying the pepper in this one, but it is young ... tastes at times like a peated Bruichladdich Classic Laddie, very musty barley-forward. FWIW, sipping some Kilkerran 8 CS side-by-side with it really exposes the Ardbeg 5's youth. Cheers, lads!
Discounted y’all right when they said this would be good in a Bloody Mary. I did a blind test with the ardbeg’s I have and I really enjoyed it and it fit nicely into the line. Younger for sure but the flavours are more interesting than the OA in my mind, not too far off from the ten if you do side by side
I feel like you guy's either got a batch or your factoring age and price a bit too much..nothing offensive about it to me..surprisingly, no noticeable youth or "new make" character..big powdered sugar sweetness with a slap of peat, very light(vague) fruity element of olorosso..I'd buy it again
Ardbeg are too chicken shit to release this in the U.K. What's that all about? It'll sell because it's Ardbeg but I'm fairly certain it's going to be overpriced for what it is.
Good and fair review. I’d recommend coming back to it after it’s been open a while and comparing it to other young Peated whiskies such as the Lagavulin 8.
Good point. I've got issues with that Lagavulin 8 as well.
I absolutely loved the wee beastie. For 43$, a whisky of this complexity and depth is quite commendable. I applaud Ardbeg for having the temerity to include a 5 year old age statement on their whisky, which is of course 47%, non-chill filtered and natural color. The nose was enticing and so was the taste. This is not for the un-initiated or for those who are not used to big flavors. Lovers of fruity, speyside or sherry monster highland whiskys will not enjoy this bottling. For those who enjoy a challenging dram that demands time and perseverance, we have another winner from Ardbeg. Sliante Mhath!
it's 35 bucks where I'm at. Everything that you disliked about this scotch has made it more compelling. I bought 2 bottles. Can't wait to try it once my dry week is complete.
It's $35 for me in north Texas too. I think it's by far my least preferred Ardbeg (not that I have tried every expression ever made). I probably won't buy another bottle, but it's an interesting thing of itself.
how did it go ?
@@phraktl might be my least preferred too but I like them all so for 35 I'd buy it all the time.
Thanks for the review guys. Wee Beastie is about US$59 equivalent in Australia. I'm going for it. The 10 can run US$69 equivalent here. Pretty sure it's non-chillfiltered and natural colour.
I actually loved, what I called the dancing spices the first glass I had. It did change from sip to sip, and not so much in an evolving way but more chaotic, but considering its age I didn't mind that too much and the constant for me at least was a blast of pepper on the finish, which I never grew tired of. The brine drifted in and out but I found it refreshing when it did make an appearance. I'll certainly replace this bottle when mine is dry.
Many reviews say it;s the most intense whiskey out there. Is that true?
@@EddieChubb25694 I'd hesitate to call any whisky the most "anything" just too much I haven't tried. But intense is an accurate descriptor for flavor, nose and finish of this whisky
@@EddieChubb25694 I've had I think 8 pours of it now. It still comes at you full force with that first sip. Might not be as fully flavored as a few other Ardbegs I've had certainly not as harmonious in flavor, but the individual flavors I think stand out more, perhaps due to its youth.
Whiskey being all over the place on the nose is called complexity. It goes for $35 where I’m at, which is a steal.
That's it's price, in Spain it should be 35€ but it has been impossible to find by now at any price, so let's see by the next release, I really want to try this one haha
I found this to be a fun and memorable whisky. I would personally buy this before the 10 year just because of the earth tone simplicity and slight sweetness from the sherry. Obviously the sherry is barely noticeable if we don’t really search / I wouldn’t know it had Oloroso if the bottle didn’t say. I’m generally not the type to like nothing but a peat blast... but I’ll take this. I’m excited to start using it for blending with some of my older whiskies!!!! And as Erik Wait said... let it sit for a bit. Or pour the glass and come back 15 or so minutes. But your right it is young and not complex.
Yeah the 10 is a different beast and both have their place
Still not out here in Scotland. Not rushing to buy it to be honest. Ardbegs biggest problem is how great the standard 10 is.
Here in Texas I paid $38+tax.
It's good, but I'd rather spend the extra $12 on the 10 year.
I shot it out against Lagavulin 8 and Kilchoman Machir Bay,.. it held it's own,.. I thought it was a little better than the Lagavulin, but not quite as good as the Kilchoman.
Agree👍🏻
Definitely better to just go with the 10.
Totally agree; price matters, especially with scoring this one compared to the Ten.
The ten is 48euro and the 5 42 euro so what do you prefer? I like them both equally. It's what I'm in the mood from.
Great to see the team together again and great honest review. Thank you guys.
This is just a really enjoyable easy sipping dram, at $35-$40 worth every penny.
Wee Beastie 5, 10 year, An Oa, Uiggy, and Corry are now considered the permanent core range.
Also the 19 year old
hard to choose a fave, depends on the task
Wow regional liquor pricing is weird. For me this bottle is $35 where the 10 is $45-50. For me it’s an easy buy all day long for a budget peat bomb. I also just appreciate the transparency with actually putting an age statement and owning the aggressive youthfulness as part of the identity of the release as opposed to releasing it as an NAS with a flashy marketing story / packaging and charging double the price. I love it!
When this first came out in my area I paid $35 which I thought was a great price point. It has since gone up to $40 but how many other 47% ABV whiskies can you find at that price point? That being said, if it were the same price as the ten, I’d just buy the ten.
Would you guys recommend Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie or Lagavulin 9 for a young smokey whisky?
Interesting! Great reviews all around. Looking forward to it myself sometime. Stop by soon - been doing some Flora and Fauna bottles recently and more soon.
Tastes like a young Bruichladdich or Kilchoman at a fairer price to me. I got it for $34.49. My fear is this was partially put out to push the price of the Ten.
How good does the bar look with all 4 of you together again! The logo on the TV makes it POP!
For the price I think it’s a good bottle to just sip while cooking or watching vids, but I like the bolder punch you flavors at the moment.
It sounds like it would be a perfect choice for the Islay peat component of a Penicillin cocktail (with Monkey Shoulder as the other scotch blended with ginger syrup or a strong ginger beer) or small dram by itself.
The bold flavor profile and unique experience of drinking the Wee Beastie is such that I don’t regret spending the money on the bottle, but I will not buy it again. I don't care for this whiskey very much. This stuff is too young, much too immature, and overly harsh which takes away from the enjoyment of drinking it neat. I find the only way I can tolerate it and round it out is with a big whiskey ice block and a really big pour of water which I hardly ever do. I enjoy the calmer drinkability of the 10 y/o which is much more sensible for the money. I am content to say, “I tried a bottle of Wee Beastie, once” rather than say, “I drink Wee Beastie regularly.”
Love y’all reviews. I just bought it for $50 down here in Louisiana, I found it to be pretty good for what it was. It’s obviously a young whiskey, I feel $40 would’ve been a better price point. I liked it because it’s an Islay, but I agree with 2/4.
Your store may be raising SRP. It is $39.99 at larger liquor stores in Texas.
Great review guys👍🏻
The smoke smacks you in the face first sip. Then the sweet brine and fruits kick in followed by the young burn. It’s a good drink.
Great review Gents!! As always!!
I had another dram after watching the video and I didn't get any of the spice you guys were getting. For me is was just a very nice Ardbeg dram. I hope you focus this on the Thursday live show so I can drink along with you guys again. For the price I think this is a very good bottle and I will buy another the next time I see it.
No idea where you live where both wee beastie and 10 are the same price but the 5 is in the 40s where I live and the 10 is 65.
I think that what really throws ya with this one is that it's sherried as well. You've got all that active untamed wacky spirit character, it being only 5 years old, then you've got the heavy peat in there, plus the sherry which makes everything even busier. It's kaleidoscopic, and i don't care how much i sound like a pretentious douche by saying that, i don't have a better description. There really is very much going on.
This thing smashes as a daily islay or what you finish with after a couple drams of more refined islays
🥃
Its $39 here in NH
I read the msrp was supposed to be $38 🤔
Great review! I'm very much enjoying the pepper in this one, but it is young ... tastes at times like a peated Bruichladdich Classic Laddie, very musty barley-forward. FWIW, sipping some Kilkerran 8 CS side-by-side with it really exposes the Ardbeg 5's youth. Cheers, lads!
Fair enough!
Ardbeg Wee bestie is better than 10.
Found it for $40 and haven’t opened it. Clearly price matters. So is this a $40 bottle?
Yeah its great
Discounted y’all right when they said this would be good in a Bloody Mary. I did a blind test with the ardbeg’s I have and I really enjoyed it and it fit nicely into the line. Younger for sure but the flavours are more interesting than the OA in my mind, not too far off from the ten if you do side by side
It doesn't have the citrussy grapefruit notes and is less earthy than the 10, i find it is lighter and has more herbal and briney notes
Can someone ship me a dram to Ontario please and thank you!? I’m sure a bottle will be like $100 CDN by the time the LCBO is done taxing it to death.
Should just order from Alberta, the 10 is sub 70 dollars here. Uigeadail 100 plus, back home is like 170 or something stupid
I know what let’s all talk at once…..
I feel like you guy's either got a batch or your factoring age and price a bit too much..nothing offensive about it to me..surprisingly, no noticeable youth or "new make" character..big powdered sugar sweetness with a slap of peat, very light(vague) fruity element of olorosso..I'd buy it again
It does sound as if you would like it if it was say...10 years old :-) Cheers...phil
Yep ;) above average for a 5 year old..lends insight to NAS offering$
Ardbeg are too chicken shit to release this in the U.K. What's that all about? It'll sell because it's Ardbeg but I'm fairly certain it's going to be overpriced for what it is.