Whisk(e)y Wednesday - I'm Back!

It's getting close to 24 Days of Whisk(e)y time... so I figured I better warm up my nose and my palate. Tonight it's time to kill a bottle that's been around for a while, Ardbeg BizarreBQ - coming in at 50.9% ABV... no age statement. They say this one is a blend of Charred Oak Casks, Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks, and a Unique BBQ Cask. A one off from Arbeg... how is it?

On the nose, I certainly get the char, bbq meat, molasses, marshmallow smores, and some sherry sweetness. The taste I certainly get some proof tingle, pepper spice, cinnamon ... it drinks hotter than expected after the nose. The finish I get char, tar, meat, bbq sauce with some ash in the back.

With water things are more sweet on the nose - meaty, sweet bbq and I get more of the sherry sweetness now. Taste is much more tame - with a hint of chocolate... but still BBQ meats, sherry, and spice. The finish is now spicier, but with some sweet, hot pepper and still ash in the back. 

The 50.9% is a nice touch on this, and it really is quite different with and without water - worth trying both ways. It cost $85 when I picked it up, and like most Ardbeg one offs I'll never see it again. It's different enough that if you're an Ardbeg fan and you see this at a reasonably price you should pick it up. It's not better than any of the core line offerings, just different. I'll rate it a 4.0/5.0... cheers!