Ardbeg BizarreBQ
November 30, 2024
If you’ve ever wondered if there was a way for that smoky barbecue flavor we’re all familiar with to influence the taste of whisky, or vice versa, it turns out maybe there is! This time I’m reviewing the Ardbeg BizarreBQ, from the stills of the Ardbeg distillery, located next to the Atlantic Ocean on the Western Scottish isle of Islay.
Summertime is most often associated with barbecuing but just because the turning calendar pages say that Summer has given way to Fall that doesn’t mean that there are fewer reasons to hit the grill. In fact, with cooler weather, maybe there are even more! So, with barbecuing in mind, I pulled this bottle off the shelf, a 2023 release that I purchased last year but didn’t get a chance to open until now. This one celebrates the tie-in between a smoky Ardbeg and a smokin’ grill. Now I know Ardbeg has gotten its fair share of detractors lately because of all the corny marketing they’re doing around their specialty releases and, in many cases, it’s kind of deserved. Sorry Ardbeg. But I’ve also found that, even corny marketing can sometimes reveal a decent whisky. So I’m going to overlook the hype here and judge the liquid on its own merits.
Dr. Bill Lumsden, the master distiller for Ardbeg, created this non-aged statement release by maturing and finishing the spirit in double charred oak casks, Pedro Ximenex casks, and special BBQ casks.
Whatever the heck those are.
And it’s been bottled at 50.9 percent ABV. Research on the website tells me it’s non-chill filtered. And that’s it. C’mon, Dr. Bill. Stop adding color.
And that “enhanced” color has a coppery, light mahogany look to it - I wonder what it looked like coming out of those BBQ casks before they added the coloring - and it’s got some seriously attractive viscosity to it, with thick and fairly slow legs.
The thing about Ardbeg, it fills the space your in with a distinctive aroma, which makes you look forward to the nosing.
Nose:
I was surprised that the first thing I pick up on the nose is raisins. But this is followed very quickly by the obvious scent of smoke, and while it was obviously present it was not initially overpowering. I also get the smell of smoked pineapple. There’s the earthy sense of leather moccasins. And cooking spices, like ground cardamom.
Palate:
Not unsurprisingly, there’s smoke on the top of the palate and the back of the throat. But there’s also a very inviting sweetness balancing it out. I seem to pick up honey in a significant way. There’s some overly reduced cherries, followed by black pepper. If the smoke plays a big role here - which it does - I’d liken it to chewing on charcoal briquets. I also get a little brine on the tongue. There’s some soap. And it’s also like chewing on a pencil. Which I did a fair amount of during my school days.
This is a good ABV to add some water to. So that’s what I did.
Nose + Water:
The water’s giving me more malt on the nose. I also get the unexpected scent of hot dogs. Just plain, with no toppings. And a white bread hot dog bun. And a few burning embers.
Palate + Water:
One of those coffee-flavored lollipops I liked as a kid. Sweet pine cones. And chocolate-y, smoked butter.
Finish:
The finish of the BizarreBQ is pretty long and it leaves me in a smoke-filled room where they’re also serving vanilla ice cream with fresh cherry sauce and some cigarette ash sprinkled on top, for good measure.
Rating:
I don’t like it when whisky makers don’t have enough confidence in my ability to appreciate the natural color of their whisky but I guess that’s a corporate decision. Too bad. Now I often factor that into my recommendation decision and even though it’s got coloring added and it’s one of Ardbeg’s often silly marketing releases, this one totally caught me by surprise! Chewy and smoky with rich sweetness just below the surface to even things out. It was a limited release so you’ll probably need a little luck on your side to get your hands on it at this point. But wow…delicious! And I’m as surprised as anyone. The Ardbeg BizarreBQ release gets a 10 finger pour from me
Age Statement: NAS
ABV: 50.9 %
Chill-filtered: no
E150a caramel coloring added: yes
Average Price (750ml): $90 (US)
https://www.ardbeg.com/en-int/ardbeg-bizarrebq-limited-edition-1101413.html
