Ardara Distillery blends traditional distillation methods with heavy peat smoke in this limited edition, created for enthusiasts who love depth and authentic Irish craftsmanship.

Expert Review

Ardara 2025 Edition is a heavily peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey, bottled at 46%.

The whiskey combines traditional distillation methods with heavy peat smoke, giving a pronounced and full flavour profile. It is bottled with natural colour and without chill filtration, ensuring a genuine, unadulterated whiskey experience. Ardara 2025 Edition is a notable release from the newer Irish Ardara Distillery, intended for both collectors and smoke lovers seeking a modern Irish whiskey with a distinct peat character.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense peat smoke and warm spice.

Palate

Malty nuances with powerful smoke and spice.

Finish

Long and robust, with lingering peat character.

Specifications

Name: Ardara 2025 Edition
Distillery: Ardara
Region/Country: Ireland
Type: Heavily Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Vintage: 2025 edition
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5391532621289

Flavour Profile

Heavily smoky · Peat-driven · Spiced · Malty · Robust

Did You Know?

Ardara Distillery is one of Ireland's newer distilleries, named after the town of Ardara in County Donegal, and has quickly gained attention for its pronounced peated style.

Signed by one of the distillery's well-known faces, and built on a higher share of first-fill bourbon casks than its predecessors.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 4 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

No two Traigh Bhan batches are alike, and Batch 4 stands out with a silkier character thanks to a higher share of first-fill bourbon casks working alongside the sherry casks. Every batch carries its own batch number and the signature of one of the distillery's well-known faces, in this case Colin Gordon.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Faint hints of sweet smoky wood and crème fraîche develop into bold notes of fennel, celery and toasted tea.

Palate

A salty mouthfeel turns into soft herbal notes, followed by salted peanuts, smoked pineapple and lime juice, as waves of aniseed roll across the palate.

Finish

An intense finish of caramel and smoke breaks through after the milder middle notes.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 4
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak (first-fill) and Oloroso sherry casks
Edition: Batch 4
EAN no.: 5010494975574

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Herbal · Salty

Did You Know?

Every Traigh Bhan batch carries the signature of one of Ardbeg's well-known staff members, and Batch 4 is signed by Colin Gordon as a personal mark on this particular batch.

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A small whitewashed warehouse on the Islay shore, salt in the air, and a batch that exists only until the next one takes its place.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in American oak and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 46.2%.

Traigh Bhan means white beach, named after the small bay just below the distillery. The series is released in a new batch every year, and each one is its own irreplaceable blend that disappears from the shelf once the next arrives. Batch 5 brings together casks that give the whisky a depth not always found in Ardbeg's more widely available releases, without losing the distillery's trademark backbone of peat and smoke.

The whisky is non-chill filtered, so everything the casks gave it along the way is still in the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Green peppers and a hint of smoked mango open things up, quickly followed by guava and a sweet whiff of maple syrup over crisp bacon.

Palate

Peat arrives first, warm and earthy, before the sherry casks unfold with dark fruit and a lightly salted caramel.

Finish

Long and smoky, with a finish of toasted nuts and a last trace of sea salt.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 5
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 19 years
ABV: 46.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American oak and Oloroso sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: Batch 5
EAN no.: 5010494980943

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Fruity · Salty

Did You Know?

Traigh Bhan takes its name from a small white beach right below the distillery, a name mostly known only to the locals.

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An independent bottling from one of the whisky world's oldest and most respected bottlers, a world apart from Ardbeg's own labels.

Expert Review

Ardbeg 1994/2004 Connoisseurs Choice 10 Year Old is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail at 40%.

Connoisseurs Choice is Gordon & MacPhail's classic series of independent bottlings, where the whisky is distilled at the named distillery but selected and bottled by the bottler itself. This release was distilled in 1994 and bottled in 2004 after 10 years of maturation, giving a different expression than Ardbeg's own official releases.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Classic Islay peat at a calmer, more restrained pace than the more powerful official bottlings, with a light maritime freshness.

Palate

Gentle smoke and peat balanced by a dry, malt-forward sweetness, characteristic of Gordon & MacPhail's style.

Finish

Mild and dry, with a lingering smoky finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg 1994/2004 Connoisseurs Choice
Distillery: Ardbeg
Bottler: Gordon & MacPhail
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: 1994
Bottled: 2004
Edition: Connoisseurs Choice
EAN no.: 5020613151321

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Malty · Mild · Classic

Did You Know?

Gordon & MacPhail started as a grocery shop in Elgin in 1895 and is today one of Scotland's oldest and most respected independent bottlers, with warehouses stretching back decades.

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A pirate with no bottle in hand, and that absence alone is the whole reason collectors chase this release.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release French Label is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in used rye casks and bottled at cask strength, 51.8%.

The release was created to honour outgoing Distillery Manager Mickey Heads, who left the role after 13 years at Ardbeg. This "French Label" version is distinguished by the pirate on the label holding no bottle of Ardbeg, unlike the original release, which has made this particular variant especially sought-after among Ardbeg collectors.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced rye and peat meet a dry, almost peppery sharpness from the rye casks.

Palate

Full cask strength gives an intense, spiced structure, where smoke and rye grain take the lead.

Finish

Long and dry, with lasting spice and smoke that stay on the palate.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release – French Label
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 51.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used rye casks
Edition: French Label, cask strength

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Rye-driven · Cask strength

Did You Know?

The original label shows a pirate holding a bottle of Ardbeg, while this French variant was released without the bottle, a single detail that alone turned it into a sought-after collector's edition.

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The pirate holds the bottle on this one, the original, and the version that came first of the two.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in used rye casks and bottled at cask strength, 51.8%.

The release was created to honour outgoing Distillery Manager Mickey Heads, who left the role after 13 years at Ardbeg. This is the original Committee Release label, where the pirate on the front holds a bottle of Ardbeg in hand.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Spiced rye and peat in close interplay, with a dry sharpness from the rye casks.

Palate

Full cask strength gives an intense, spiced structure, with smoke and rye grain dominating.

Finish

Long and dry, with lasting spice and a smoky finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg! Committee Release
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 51.8%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Used rye casks
Edition: Committee Release, cask strength

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Rye-driven · Cask strength

Did You Know?

This release is the original Committee Release label, with the pirate holding a bottle of Ardbeg in hand, unlike the later French Label variant where the bottle is left out.

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Named after one of the world's most notorious whirlpools, and just as violent and untamed in the glass as the current is at the coast.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Corryvreckan is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured in French oak and ex-bourbon casks and bottled at 57.1%.

The name comes from the Corryvreckan whirlpool north of Islay, a natural phenomenon that mirrors the whisky's raw power. It's neither chill filtered nor coloured, letting the full cask strength show through from the first sip to the last.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bold black coffee meets dense, rich dark chocolate tones, with sweet autumn fruit like blackcurrant and cherry in the background.

Palate

Elegant, softly spiced oak ties it all together with heavy peat and a touch of salt that bites gently on the tongue.

Finish

Long, with a lingering salty edge that stays with you well after each sip.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French oak and ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494296280

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Cask strength

Did You Know?

The Corryvreckan whirlpool the whisky is named after is considered one of the third largest tidal whirlpools in the world and can be heard for miles when it's at its wildest.

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An older release of Corryvreckan, pulled from the shelf storeroom, carrying the character only years on a shelf can give a label.

Note: This 2009 release has been pulled from Whisky.dk's own storeroom and carries bottle code L9 231 12:21 6ML, along with minor wear on the box and a yellow duty seal.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Corryvreckan Old Version 2009 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and French oak casks and bottled at 57.1%.

The name Corryvreckan comes from the mythical whirlpool north of Islay, a natural phenomenon reflecting the whisky's raw power and depth. Non-chill filtered, it retains its natural oils and full flavour richness.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bold notes of tar, creosote and linseed oil meet dark fruit such as blackcurrant and cherry.

Palate

Spiced meat, espresso and dark chocolate are balanced by a splash of sea salt and aromatic spices like star anise and cloves.

Finish

Long, smoky and spiced, with notes of coffee and chocolate-covered cherries.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Corryvreckan Old Version 2009
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 57.1%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and French oak casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494296280

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Cask strength

Did You Know?

This bottle has been pulled from Whisky.dk's own storeroom and has therefore sat untouched for many years, giving the box natural wear while the whisky inside remains unaffected.

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A distillery's rebirth told in a single glass, the culmination of a journey that began with a shuttered distillery and ended in one of Islay's most loved names.

Note: There is minor wear on the box.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Renaissance 1998/2008 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 1998, bottled in 2008 after 10 years of maturation in ex-bourbon casks, non-chill filtered at cask strength, 55.9%.

The whisky marks the distillery's rebirth following its reopening in the late 1990s and was released as the culmination of the "Path to Peaty Maturity" series. Today it stands as a collector favourite and an icon of modern Ardbeg history.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Bold smoke meets a fresh sea breeze, citrus and spiced sweetness from the bourbon casks.

Palate

Full and complex with layers of peat, pepper, salted caramel and ripe fruit.

Finish

Long, lingering and intense, with a finely tuned balance of smoke, spice and sweetness.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Renaissance
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 55.9%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distilled: 1998
Bottled: 2008
Edition: Path to Peaty Maturity – Renaissance
EAN no.: 5010494294286

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Fruity

Investment Potential

Medium. As the culmination of a historically important series for Ardbeg, at cask strength and non-chill filtered, Renaissance is regarded by many as one of the most significant releases in the distillery's modern history.

Did You Know?

Renaissance was the final and most anticipated release in the "Path to Peaty Maturity" series, which followed Ardbeg's whisky year by year from the reopening until it reached its full potential.

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Californian sunshine and Scottish peat meet in one glass, as if Ardbeg took a detour through Napa Valley on the way home to Islay.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks and bottled at 46%.

The bottle belongs to the Smoketrails series, where Ardbeg travels the globe for casks that have never before touched a drop of Scotch whisky and lets them enter a dialogue with the distillery's peat smoke. This time it's the bold red wine casks from Napa Valley leaving their mark, in the current Batch US/NV 2024/03.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dark berries and intense peat smoke mingle with a hint of spice and a light winey sweetness from the red wine casks.

Palate

Rich and well balanced, where peat smoke meets ripe fruit, oak and a gentle sweetness from the wine.

Finish

Long and lingering, with an elegant combination of smoke and tannin that leaves a rounded finish.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Smoketrails Napa Valley Edition
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 46%
Size: 100 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon casks and Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks
Edition: Batch US/NV 2024/03
EAN no.: 5010494991598

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Fruity · Winey · Spiced

Did You Know?

The Smoketrails series is Ardbeg's travel diary in a bottle, with every release drawing on casks from a new corner of the world, and the Napa Valley edition is the first to use American red wine casks.

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A universe of smoke, where the peat doesn't just fill the glass but the whole room around it.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Smokiverse is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky bottled at 48.3%.

The nose delivers an explosion of fruity esters reminiscent of smoked bubblegum, mixed with ripening barley and toasted sourdough. The whisky is non-chill filtered, so its full, oily structure carries right through to the glass.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dense, sweet peat smoke mingles with lightly smoked tropical fruit, and a drop of water draws the aromas out even further.

Palate

Rich and creamy with a luxurious mouthfeel that shifts into sharp, sooty, spiced notes of creosote, aniseed and cloves, balanced by muscovado sugar.

Finish

Almost endless, leaving a lasting impression of earthy peat moss melting into glowing bonfire embers.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Smokiverse
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
ABV: 48.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494995305

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Creamy · Fruity

Did You Know?

The name Smokiverse is Ardbeg's own way of suggesting that the distillery's smoke spans a whole universe of nuance, from sweet to sooty, all within a single dram.

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Named after a stellar explosion, and just as violent, a whisky that once pushed the limits of how peated an Islay single malt could get.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Supernova SN 2015 Committee Release is an Islay Single Malt Whisky bottled in 2015 at 54.3%.

The Supernova series was Ardbeg's answer to the question of just how peated a single malt could become, and this 2015 release was a Committee Exclusive reserved for the distillery's fan community.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Surprisingly floral, with fresh pine, sweet golden syrup and a hint of medicinal peat carrying a touch of youth without becoming overpowering.

Palate

Smoky, with an abundance of coal dust, more freshly sawn pine, a sweet candy floss note, melted butter and white pepper in an extremely peated whole.

Finish

A lingering dryness coats the tongue, with dusty embers from a bonfire leaving their mark.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Supernova SN 2015
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 54.3%
Size: 70 CL
Bottled: 2015
Edition: Committee Release
EAN no.: 5010494928303

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Extremely peated · Floral · Sweet

Investment Potential

High. The Supernova series holds a reputation as among the most heavily peated single malts ever bottled, and as a 2015 Committee Exclusive this release is sought after by collectors of extreme Islay bottlings.

Did You Know?

The Supernova series was originally created as a direct challenge to make the most heavily peated whisky Ardbeg had ever produced, with a phenol content far above the distillery's permanent releases.

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The scent of an ashtray, a whisky guru who can't help but praise it, and the bottle most Islay lovers eventually come back to.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Ten The Ultimate is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured for 10 years and bottled at 46%.

The peaty aroma signals a high phenol content, and the pronounced ashtray character is part of what has made this particular 10-year-old one of the most praised entry-level single malts on the market. The whisky is non-chill filtered and carries a ppm content of 50-55, keeping it close to the distillery's raw starting point.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clean and smoky with a hint of citrus freshness, with barbecue notes lying just beneath the surface.

Palate

Iodine, salt, spice and liquorice in a heavy, intense smoke carried by an underlying sweetness.

Finish

Marked by peat, smoke and sweetness, powerful and with good length.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Ten The Ultimate
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 10 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Edition: The Ultimate
EAN no.: 5010494195286

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Salty · Spiced · Citrus-fresh

Did You Know?

Many Islay connoisseurs point to Ardbeg Ten as the 10-year-old that best shows what the distillery is about, without needing to pay for a limited edition batch.

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21 years on cask and only 8,268 bottles in the world, an age Ardbeg rarely puts on display.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Twenty One 21 Year Old Committee Release 2016 is an Islay Single Malt Whisky distilled in spring 1995, bottled in 2016 after 21 years of maturation, at 46%.

The release is a Committee Release, reserved for members of Ardbeg's own fan community, and is among the oldest vintage bottles the distillery has ever released at this scale.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Restrained, mature peat alongside a soft sweetness that only truly shows after so many years on cask.

Palate

Rounded and well balanced, where the classic Ardbeg smoke has been smoothed by decades of maturation without losing its identity.

Finish

Long and elegant, with a lasting smoky warmth that speaks to the age.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Twenty One
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 21 years
ABV: 46%
Size: 70 CL
Distilled: Spring 1995
Bottled: 2016
Number of bottles: 8,268 bottles
Edition: Committee Release 2016
EAN no.: 5010494934410

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Mature · Elegant · Rounded

Investment Potential

High. As one of Ardbeg's oldest releases, limited to 8,268 bottles and long sold out from the distillery, Twenty One is regarded as one of the most sought-after bottles among Ardbeg collectors.

Did You Know?

Ardbeg won "World Whisky of the Year" two years running in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, a recognition that cemented the distillery's status in the very years this 21-year-old was bottled.

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Named after the loch the distillery draws its water from, and just as dark and pulling as the name suggests.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Uigeadail is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured in ex-bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 54.2%.

The name is pronounced "Oog-a-dal" and comes from the loch where Ardbeg draws its water, a direct nod to the island's rugged nature. The whisky is non-chill filtered and unadulterated with colour, preserving the full depth from both the bourbon and sherry casks.

Uigeadail has won several international awards and is regarded by many as one of the most complete releases in Ardbeg's range, precisely because it unites the distillery's peat smoke with a deep sherry sweetness without losing balance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Tar, burnt wood and maritime notes meet dried fruit, honey and warm spice from the sherry casks.

Palate

Bold and complex, where smoky tar, burnt sugar and dark chocolate play alongside raisins and spice.

Finish

Long and warm, with a deep and satisfying finish that ties smoke and sweetness together.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Uigeadail
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
ABV: 54.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and sherry casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
EAN no.: 5010494220278

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Sherry-matured · Maritime · Spiced

Did You Know?

Uigeadail has scored as high as 97.5 points in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, one of the highest ratings any Ardbeg release has received.

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Just 6 years old and already named for exactly what it is, a whisky that makes no secret of its youth.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Very Young 1998/2004 is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 1998, bottled in 2004 after 6 years of maturation, non-chill filtered at 58.3%.

Very Young was part of the same vintage series as Still Young and Renaissance, where Ardbeg tracked its own whisky through the maturation process after the 1997 reopening, letting the name of each release reflect how far the whisky had come.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Raw, direct peat with a sharp, youthful intensity and a hint of fresh citrus.

Palate

Powerful smoke and a marked phenolic edge, uncompromising and direct in style.

Finish

Long and dry, with a lasting smoky sharpness underlining the whisky's young origins.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Very Young
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 years
ABV: 58.3%
Size: 70 CL
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Distilled: 1998
Bottled: 2004
Edition: Very Young
EAN no.: 5010494222265

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Young and raw · Cask strength-led · Citrus-fresh

Investment Potential

Medium. As the youngest release in Ardbeg's vintage series from the reopening years, at high cask strength and long sold out, Very Young appeals to collectors wanting the full line-up from Very Young through Still Young to Renaissance.

Did You Know?

Very Young, Still Young and Renaissance together form a unique series where Ardbeg let the names tell the story of how the whisky evolved from young and raw to fully mature, year by year.

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A small, untamed beast with sharp teeth, far younger and far wilder than its bigger siblings on the shelf.

Expert Review

Ardbeg Wee Beastie is an Islay Single Malt Whisky matured for 5 years in ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 47.4%.

With its young age, Wee Beastie is completely untamed in its smoky character, without the rounding-off that extra years of maturation would otherwise bring. That makes it the most uncompromising and direct introduction to Ardbeg's style, carrying a ppm content of 50-55.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh and herbal with vanilla, pears, freshly ground black pepper and honey-glazed ham, plus a hint of resin.

Palate

Full and explosive with plenty of chocolate, tar and smoked bacon, followed by eucalyptus and aniseed.

Finish

Long and salted, with notes of cocoa, cream caramel and salted meat.

Specifications

Name: Ardbeg Wee Beastie
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 47.4%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks
EAN no.: 5010494961577

Flavour Profile

Smoky · Spiced · Salty · Young and wild

Did You Know?

Wee Beastie is the youngest permanent release in Ardbeg's range, often used by the distillery to show just how raw and direct the style is before the casks smooth off the edges.

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Ardlair 2011/2023 Signatory Vintage 11 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 62.5%

Ardlair 2011 vintage is a rare and powerful whisky from the Highland region, produced by the Ardmore distillery under the name Ardlair to highlight its unpeated profile. It was distilled on January 27, 2011, and bottled on January 11, 2023, by Signatory Vintage as part of their renowned Cask Strength Collection.

The whisky matured for 11 years in a refill Oloroso sherry butt (cask no. 900032), which imparts complex aromas and a pronounced sherry character. It was bottled at an unusually high strength of 62.5%, ensuring an intense and deep flavour experience without chill filtration or added colour.

The flavour profile offers notes of dark fruits such as raisins and figs, combined with roasted nuts, honey, spices, and dried ginger. The palate unfolds with layers of dark chocolate, walnuts, and sweet sherry, balanced by spicy oak and vanilla. The finish is long, warming, and marked by lingering sherry sweetness and elegant oak tannins.

Distillery: Ardlair
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Vintage: Distilled: 27/01/2011 Bottled: 11/01/2023
Age: 11 years
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask number/type: Cask No. #900032 / Refill Oloroso Butt
Alcohol strength: 62.5%
Number of bottles: 597
Natural Colour
70 cl.
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Ardlair 2011/2023 Signatory Vintage 12 Year Old Sherry Butt Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 63.4%

Ardlair 2011 Signatory Vintage is a powerful and characterful bottling from Signatory Vintage’s Cask Strength Collection. The whisky was distilled on January 27, 2011, and bottled on March 8, 2023, giving it an age of 12 years. It matured in a Refill Oloroso Sherry Butt (cask no. 900028), which contributed a complex and fruity profile without overpowering the spirit’s own character. Ardlair is the unpeated version of Ardmore distillery’s whisky, and this edition was bottled at an impressive cask strength of 63.4%, without chill filtration and with natural colour. Only 622 bottles were released.

The flavour profile offers notes of fresh apples, pistachios, roasted almonds, and salted caramel. There is a creamy texture with hints of dried fruits and a clear sherry influence, leading to a long and persistent finish. A Highland whisky with both power and finesse, showing how refill sherry casks can create balance between fruit, spice, and malt.

Distillery: Ardlair
Bottler: Signatory Vintage
Vintage: Distilled: 27/01/2011 Bottled: 08/03/2023
Age: 12 years
Type: Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask number/type: Cask No. #900028 / Refill Oloroso Sherry Butt
Alcohol strength: 63.4%
Number of bottles: 622
Natural Colour
70 cl
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Ardlair 2014 Little Brown Dog 12 Year Old Cognac Cask Finish Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky 52.6%

The independent bottler Little Brown Dog sources casks from distilleries across Scotland and bottles them under its own label – each release featuring the small brown dog that has become the company’s signature. In this case, they have secured a cask from Ardmore Distillery in its unpeated style: Ardlair.

Little Brown Dog describes the release as follows:

Little Brown Dog has created a playful yet serious bottling from Ardmore Distillery – under the name Ardlair, used for the lesser-known unpeated spirit. Internally, it is sometimes humorously referred to as “Ardless”, reflecting the relaxed spirit behind the project, even though the whisky itself is anything but uninteresting.

This 12-year-old single malt was distilled on 22 February 2014 and bottled on 23 February 2026 at 52.6% ABV. It was initially matured in a refill bourbon hogshead, but its journey was far from straightforward: the cask arrived partially leaking and had already lost around 10 kg during transport. It was therefore transferred into a smaller refill bourbon barrel, and later – in December 2024 – given an additional finish in a 30+ year old cognac barrique to enhance fruitiness and add depth without overpowering the spirit.

Balance is key here. The cognac cask has been used with a light touch, allowing the oily, gently spicy Highland spirit character to remain at the forefront, while the wine-derived sweetness adds refinement. The whisky also opens up significantly with a splash of water, revealing more fruit and spice.

The colour is described as “beeswax” – a warm, waxy golden tone. On the nose, it shows muscovado sugar, glazed carrots, and a forest fruit yoghurt, giving a rustic yet creamy and fruity profile.

The palate brings apricot jam, spiced pear, and extra virgin olive oil, resulting in an intriguing mix of sweetness, spice, and rich texture. The finish turns more herbal with green tea, thyme, and lime, offering a fresh and slightly bitter closing note that balances the whisky beautifully.

The label playfully references the cognac connection, inspired by a previous “French Brandy” release, but replaces the Fleur-de-Lis with a goat – a nod to a goat carved into the coat of arms at Leith Hall near the distillery. It is a typical Little Brown Dog detail, blending history, place, and cask influence with a sense of humour.

Only 186 bottles were produced, making this a rare and experimental Highland whisky full of character, story, and personality.

Distillery: Ardmore / Ardlair
Bottler: Little Brown Dog
Age: 12 Years Old
Distilled: 22/02/2014
Bottled: 23/02/2026
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Cask Type: Cognac Cask Finish
ABV: 52.6%
Number of bottles: 186
Non-chill filtered
Natural colour
70 cl
Other: Single Cask Whisky from Little Brown Dog Spirits
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