Best Ardbeg in a while? | Ardbeg BizarreBQ REVIEW
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- Опубліковано 9 лют 2025
- I've got a single malt scotch whisky from the Ardbeg distillery on Islay today. This is the BizarreBQ. It's a special release last year, and it's been getting a lot of hype. I'll taste it and give you my thoughts. Cheers!
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Scores:
0-75 - Crap
75-79 - For cocktails & people you don't like
80-82 - Not bad
83-85 - Getting good here
86-89 - Delicious
90-94 - Awesome
95-100 - Cowabunga Dudes
Maybe it would be boring for some, but I think all distilleries should stop all these special releases and keep the good stuff for the core range which had constantly decreased in quality over the last years.
I managed to get a couple of Ardbeg's BizarreBQ and I am finally pleased with a special release! It was overpriced but I really enjoyed it a lot, so much so that I sourced 2 more bottles! For the most part I stick to the core lineup but I am totally pleased with how much I completely loved this expression!! It's really well done! The smoke and PX with the savoury BBQ notes, a definite taste of a grilled oyster (yes seriously and it's so good - usually I only get that with Talisker!), bacon, grilled meat, chocolate are so delicious!! The richness from the PX is fantastic. I loved the smoke in this expression! I am okay with the level of sweetness and usually I am sensitive to oversweet whiskies so this surprised me!! I wish this beauty was added to the core range!! I felt energized with this "back on track" Ardbeg!! Yes the cost annoyed me a bit but on the whole it's cheaper than than other special releases. It's about $165 here locally in Vancouver but I am okay with it given how much I loved it - x3!! I am thrilled to have the extra bottles - I wouldn't continue to buy more at this cost but it's a treat to have a couple on hand!! Terrific review Geoff! Cheers! :-) Aloha from Maui!! I'm on a 2-week vacation and it is glorious downtime with family and finding some lovely single malts!! 🙂
Great description, Christine! I didn't detect any oyster notes in it just yet, so I'll have to look out for them with my next dram. Like you I absolutely love the savoury character and I think the sherry is really well integrated. Those Canadian prices, though... 😬🇨🇦
I'm incredibly jealous, btw. A nice dram on a sunny beach sounds incredible! Enjoy the vacation! 🥃
Agree. A very good bottling with lovely casks and not too young. Knock $15 off the price and no complaints. Thanks for the fun vid
I picked this up literally yesterday and I'm glad I did, it's delicious. Tried the Uigeadail for the first time semi-recently and while I still love that bottle, this one is just much better. Honestly this one tastes like what I had imagined the oogie would taste like based on descriptions
Good review and some quality one liners today, “it’s only a matter of time before Ardbeg chuck a couple of barrels in a cabbage patch!” 😂
I think I paid $70 for it last year in NYC, and it would have been my 2023 WOTY if I was a fancy online influencer✌️
$165 in Canada but we always pay more - and that is before taxes in BC. We actually have a liquor tax build into our provincial sales tax - meant to discourage excess alcohol buying - sheesh - but I am okay with it. I will pay that for Lagavulin 16 which I adore - my huge sentimental fave - Lagavulin 16 (bliss!!) got me into peated scotch whisky - and I loved this one (BizarreBQ) enough that I quickly found 2 more and that's it - too expensive to keep buying - I will hold on to the two bottles and wait for a fun time time to open them!! It's an expression that I wish was a part of the core lineup with Ardbeg. Usually I avoid their special releases - too pricey - outrageously so.
@@christinecamley $165 CAD?!? And you bought two? Wow. I'm deep down this rabbit hole, and I'm less and less inclined to spend that much on ANY bottle, including the ones I might even love; but that's me.
I increasingly rely upon my Spidey-Senses when it comes whisky purchases, and trying very hard not to act like a sucker, or forget that I'm not a Vanderbilt or Carnegie, and that past a certain point we're splitting hairs ✌️
@@christinecamley BTW, by "sucker", I only mean that the whisky industry, and Ardbeg specifically, rely heavily on overpriced vanity bottles targeted to people afflicted with FOMO or low-information conspicuous consumers with deep pockets.
6:53 -- this is the best roast of Ardbeg I've heard so far. :)))
I have finished two bottles of BizarreBBQ and have one bottle left. I really enjoyed this release.
Yeah it's great! 🥃
Great review Geoff. Am I going to miss this when it's gone - No. A vaguely interesting Islay malt. That's it. I'll forget about it. Cheers. WT
Ouch! I definitely like this one more than you, buddy. Cheers! 🥃
@@Gwhisky It's the price I find irritating really. It really ought to be cheaper.
I very much enjoyed this one. So much so that I was able to get my hands on a replacement bottle. I would for sure keep myself stocked up on this one if I could get my hands on it
Nice! Got me interested in this one! I had the blaaaack at the distillery and it stood out to me. btw, looking forward for the crazy cabbage release 🤣
I completely agree with your statement about the Heavy Vapours. I picked it up, and while it is good, it isn't worth the price tag (if it were priced more like the 10-year, that would be better).
I am a fan of the Uigeadail, so I will have to pick this up if I see it in my area.
Geoff, now I want to try the Cabbage 🥬 special release so bad!
I love this Special Release, I agree on all your points, I’m drawn to the marketing as you said (damn Diageo), but I should say that for the price I got it for, it beats all the core range (not to similar to the Corry). The An Oa is a great price/value proposition, but the Uigeadail beats it by ABV, which is why this one comes on top for me. PS. I picked up 3 bottles and skipped replenishing the core rage. Slàinte.
Yepp... peanut butter sounds about right! I had a pour of this on my last birthday recommended to me by the bartender at my local whisky bar and I must say it was a lovely experience! It was probably the winner of the night. Interesting though, that last time besides that Ardbeg, when I had peanut butter flavor on the palete was from the Kilchoman PX Sherry cask Matured 2021 release. Maybe it has something to do with the Islay peat and the PX mix? Hmmmm 🤔 ( stoicly scratching my non existing beard ..)
Anyhow, thank you for the great review Geoff! I was really looking forward to this one😁Cheers my friend 🥃🥃
Yeah peanut butter is definitely kind of a weirdo note. It's only ever shown up for me in peated whiskies, too. Not sure what causes it but I love it! Cheers buddy! 🥃
I usually stay away from the special releases, not just Ardbeg but in general. But this one was only $85 , so I decided to give it a try. After I opened it and tried it I went back the next day and bought another bottle, which is not something that I normally do. For reference, in my area Uigeadail is $95 and Corryvreckan is $130. So, yeah, I would say that Bizzarebq is worth its price.
Damn for that price you're getting an absolute steal! 🥃
BizarreBQ is still available here. It is cheaper than the Heavy Vapours and Smoke Trails but still pretty expensive. Being a limited release puts me off buying it too. If I really like something I want to know I can get a replacement bottle, maybe in 2-3 years' time. I also don't like to buy back up bottles as that just takes up budget and space that could be used for other whiskies. Cheers!
Lol classic enthusiast conundrum. Cheers! 🥃
Better than core range .... I assume that includes the TEN?
Hello Geoff,
my last Bottle from Ardbeg was also the Blaaack😅. After that i got more and more upset by their Marketing and Prices and i stopped bying Products with this Name.(IBs are a different Topic😅).
But thanks again for sharing your Thoughts and Opinion about this Expression.
Greetings from Germany 😎🤘
Agree totally with you Geoff.
This sounds pretty good. Uigeadail used to be my go-to Islay, but the last two bottles I purchased tasted almost flat. Ardbeg really needs to do better.
What's your go-to Islay malt now?
I would reccommend the Kilchoman Sanaig, which has quickly become one of my favorite Islay malts!
@@TheSurgeHunter I agree, it's a good one, and still somewhat reasonably priced. Have you had a chance to try any of the Scarabus offerings? Scarabus batch strength is not exceptional, but it's solid, and super well priced.
@@MrChristopherMolloy I've been leaning towards Laphroaig Quarter Cask, but that's not quite what it used to be either. Sanaig has been on my radar, but I'll have to look into the Scarabus you mentioned. Thanks for the tips, guys!
Really wish you’d done this video about 3 months ago when I stumbled across this in a town about 90 minutes away from my house. It’s $85 here and I do love Ardbeg (An Oa not so much), so I’ll be on the lookout for sure! Thanks for a great and highly entertaining review, as always.
Ah damn. Well I hope you can still manage to track down a bottle. $85 is a great price! 🥃
@@Gwhisky I’m on the hunt! Thanks again!
Boom I said it's kind of better than Uiegedail as well! Glad you like it Geoff, it really is a delicious Ardbeg which just works! Cheers 🥃
I just picked this up today, for it for $85 in the states here in Utah seems like a reasonable price to me as long as it's around maybe 8 years old
I think that's a totally fair price. 🥃
It’s hard not to like an ardbeg Haven’t got this one yet - was out of town recently and it was a question of bringing this bottle home, an 8 or an octomore 14.3. Haven’t tried the octomore yet but I know I’m just going to love it (yeah, way overpriced, but we have to live our lives). Needless to say, I picked up the octomore. Will try to pick up the bizzarbbq soon (it’s not in my market, Toronto, anymore, but I’m hoping to see it in my travels). The number of ardbeg “special releases” is now beyond crazy and it’s turning some of us off.
Just finished a bottle. Good stuff!
here in Poland it's about €100, and still available. Hm. The recent Ugiadail releases taste too young for me, I'm wondering if you find any young notes in this one?
At 5:30 he touches on youthful (or lack of) 👍🥃
@@wallace-bv4rl thanks! I watched the whole review and somehow missed this part lol
I think the problem for OLED is that monitors are the one part of your set-up that you don't want breaking within five years, because monitors can last a decade and provide satisfying levels of performance for the entire duration, especially now that the benefits of higher resolutions are becoming more and more limited past the 4k threshold for most users. It's in the same kind of category as headphones, keyboards, mice, printers and scanners; once you find something that works for you, you want it to last as long as possible instead of there being some urgent need to replace it for the next new thing.
Hi Geoff ! Ardbeg.... Yummy ) Good job mate , like .Cheers !
Another good review on this expression. I have two bottles on the way so further validates my decision to order it and I am a big fan of Uigeadail so expect to like this one. Still seems to be loads of it available in Australia (probably because people have caught on to Ardbeg's bullshit and the trust is low).
I see this release as Ardbeg trying to get peoples buy in again, I can see their marketing department now "we better throw these suckers a bone and give them something half decent at a reasonable price"
This beauty is delicious! I wish it was part of the core lineup Wade!!
@@christinecamley Looking forward to trying it!
@@McIntyresMalts 🙂
Entertaining review as always. How does this compare to Loch Gorm?
It has a great design. Can't wait for the cabbage edition 😁
Perfect review!! I bought a bottle of this after getting a pre-release tasting sent to me. Definitely the best Ardbeg of the past few years. I wasn't a massive fan of the Blaaaaaaaaaack. In fact I think most of that annual release Ardbeg Day stuff is pretty poor. Dark Cove was decent, Kelpie also OK, but all the others are not great and I refused to buy the Ardcore, Heavy Vapours and others.
I love Ardbeg 10 and Uigeadail but the quality of these 2 has also gone down a lot in recent years. So this one was a real nice addition. Fortunately I have some older bottlings from 2014 and 2015.
Great review Geoff. I know I was being manipulated by gimmicks and marketing, but I bought a bottle anyway. Oh well, Whisky!
I came back to this video to hear your thoughts because the LCBO is only just about to launch this in Ontario now; better late than never? Regardless, I had remembered hearing good things about this release for a change, and they are launching it at $111.00 which plants it firmly in between Wee Beastie ($90.00) and Ten ($120.00). I felt like that was a good deal for an Ardbeg Committee Release and especially one that has sherry cask influence, something that I enjoyed so much with Wee Beastie that it quickly became my favourite core range Ardbeg, so I guess I know what I'm doing once this hits the shelves.
Thanks for reviewing Geoff.
Stopped buying the special releases. Have tried it from a sample and ... I stay with the core range (10yo and Corryvreckan to be precise).
Slàinte mhath
No time for that silly grape juice, eh? 😉
@@Gwhisky 🤐😇
My nose with peat is limited these days. All I smell is the candy behind the peat. Could be a KK heavily peated or a Miekle toir, Ardbeg, Ardmore or Laphroaig. People in the room will gasp and gag but all I smell is caramel.
So a fruit punch would be a bit of variety. And that's the spice of life. I passed on this at $100 but I'll do it for 85-90 if it crosses my path again.
The bar for special releases is Cairdeas for me. The prices are relatively stable at $100 and the nuances are sort of worth trying out.
Ardbeg seems to be about the label design and the collectability hype. The Blaack was my only retail purchase, and the smoke trails was a cheap 1 liter at Heathrow.
Lovely stuff! What sort of JW do you have there on your shelf?
A bizarre review of BizarreBQ.
Loved this one too. Cool glass Geoff, what is it? Cheers!
I was about to comment on the same😊😊
I thought this was very good at the price. Agree that it is better than the core range but even at the “lower” price for special releases it is still 50% more expensive than the Uigedail.
That having been said my view is that all the special releases before the Ardcore were worth buying. For some reason when Ardcore was released in SA it cost 50% more than the scorch and at that price it wasn’t worth it. I haven’t tried the Heavy Vapours yet and didn’t bother buying the Spectacular which went up in price again.
There is a lot of debate about whether any of the special releases were worth the premium but I think that as long as the prices were reasonable they were all worth the experience.
I think that the Spectacular was the last straw for most people so two months after its release the shelves and internet are full of it and people aren’t buying it even when the prices are discounted. I suspect that if Ardbeg doesn’t stop dropping their prices these special releases are either going to be collecting dust on shelves or won’t even get ordered by retailers any more.
Interesting one, I always have a sweet spot for Ardbeg. Thank you for sharing your opinion. BTW, will be visiting soon the Southwest of Taiwan. In your opinion, are prices and selections at Taiwanese airport duty free shops worth to check? Thank you in advance! Best regards from Vietnam.
Hi John. Yeah I think you'll be pretty happy with the local airport prices here in Taiwan. Great deals on scotch as well as local stuff like Kavalan. Enjoy your trip! 🥃
@@Gwhisky thank you!
I was very positively surprised by 8yo for the discussion
I do agree, recent bottlings of Uigeadail are inferior. No longer my favourite and maybe BizarreBQ is a better option.
I just ordered 3! Lol! Damn Ardbeg annoys me. Will you be trying the Ardbeg Spectacular?! Cheers!
I hear pretty mixed things about it, so I may not. Probably one to try at a bar first. The Bizarrebq is a standout among their special releases, though. Great one to load up on! 🥃
@@Gwhisky Thanks Geoff! Yes the Ardbeg Spectacular has had mixed reviews. I am always extremely cautious about the special releases. I don't usually buy them. I'd like a strong focus on the core lineup. I also hate getting gouged with prices and let's face it - Ardbeg overcharges. I admit I still buy the occasional special release. My husband Joel is enjoying the Spectacular. He likes the port finish! Cheers! 🙂
4:14 -- canadianly, no less. ;)
Are you sure it has no added color? Even the very pale Ardbeg 10 has added caramel color (based in German Labeling I’ve seen people post photos of in whisky forums). If it doesn’t say otherwise on the bottle or box, just assume they’re trying to fool you with food coloring.
Ardbeg fooled me once with an overpriced special release bottle (hypernova)... not getting fooled again!
Blind purchases are always a roll of the dice, but after watching this and maybe other glowing reviews of this malt, you wouldn't exactly be fooled.
Non-age statement? Pass. Gimicky
A tendência das “destilarias “ em apresentar edições especiais sem idade declarada Realmente incomoda , prefiro destilarias que “ cuidam “ dos clássicos
That's fair. I love this stuff, but I'd rather Ardbeg put more focus back into their core range. 🥃
Luckily I’m a vegan with a preference for good humor so obviously I’m very offended right now.
Lol definitely the wrong channel if you prefer good humour. 😉
So the whisky-tube likes to play nice with "whatever and however you like to drink," but that's no fun, so I declare Today 3/21 international razz on bourbon day. Here's some bad jokes I just made up to celebrate! 1) BourBon... am I right folks? You know. 2) Bourbon, more like Bore-bon. 3) Bourbon, can't drink it, can't drink Arran10 without it. 4) An oxymoron (plurals: oxymorons and oxymora) is a figure of speech that juxtaposes concepts with opposite meanings within a word or in a phrase that is a self-contradiction. Example: Craft Bourbon.
Kids’ juice.
It's very disturbing for brazilians like me to hear that us people eat peanut butter sandwiches on a bbq
I'm pretty sure hes a Canadian from Quebec living in Tailand. As a Canadian who bbqs everything I can assure you no one bbqs peanut butter sandwiches!