What seemed as a dry throat, sweaty fingers and an irritable disposition was nothing more than a craving that’s been left wanting. My desire for charred leather, damp cardboard and burnt butts had been ashtray for a while now… *oops, sorry* I meant astray. My self-diagnosed “peat hit” was  beginning to weigh heavy on me. The pppm from them highlands just wouldn’t do, I needed a more beefed up, heftier and more robust fix, one that would make me cough up burning cinders and dark smoke! Surely this meant the golden stuff from the Islays but not an overdose of course!

A few kilometres later, I noticed the Ardbeg 5 on offer at my local Dan’s! Now, this amateurish 5 year old at first glance does embody the physical frame of its siblings, but is this a real lightweight and does it stand as tall as it’s twice old, heavyweight of a brother, the infamous 10!? Both come at nearly the same Abvs – 47.4 vs 46% and are peated (at least initially) to the same levels. There are differences though, the amateurish younger sibling’s lowered time to age coupled with an added layer from the ex-sherry oloroso butts makes it stand out from the 10, which is solely matured in the standard ex-bourbon casks.

ABV : 47.4%

Eye : Old Gold | Non Chill filtered, Natural Colouring

Nose : Peat with the sweetness of vanilla, spiced with crushed green pepper and herbal nuances. There’s earthy cigarette butts, with the richness of milk chocolate and stone fruits. Some brine and cardamom with wood and turpentine.

Taste : Ashtrays with moist buds and ash, vanilla bean infused with bay leaves, green peppers, nutmeg, cloves and cardamom. Some dried fruits along with iodine, smoked salmon and heavily charred wood.

Finish : Medium to Long | Smoked salmon with subtle hints of vanilla that taper with earthy, sweet yet mildly dry, fruity nuances

This “wee” bit of a dram is surely feisty; not as crisp as the Ardbeg 10, but more heavy with earthier and pronounced spicy undertones. It lacks the velvety mouthfeel, and shows its age but checks the box if you wanted to chomp down a handful of cigarette butts and freshly charred wood, while exhaling thick black smoke like the Draco (Dragonheart) equivalent. The drink is more breadth heavy but isn’t as fortunate in terms of depth, though still very palpable.

This 5 yr old is surely different, and comes at an acceptable AUD $100. To me, this one is sweeter but meshes well with the peat heavy DNA the distillers are known for.  The finish is literally yuck, a good thing for those who love peat, and the sweetness is surely not a deal breaker; showing off a more interesting facet to the Islay whisky. Would I recommend this? Sure, yes….why not!

Better than the 10? Not completely sure, as I find the 10 to be very straightforward, crisp, nonchalant and so OG!

Slainte!