Ardbeg Wee Beastie vs Lagavulin 8: Which Wins?

Discover the differences between Ardbeg Wee Beastie vs Lagavulin 8 in this in-depth comparison and decide which peat-monster is better for You!

Ardbeg Wee Beastie

Nose	Beach bonfire, meaty smoke
Palate	Smoke, eucalyptus, chocolate, tar
Finish	Long, meat, salt, chocolate
Alcohol content	95 proof (47.4% ABV)
How to drink	Add water
Similar to	Port Charlotte 10

Wee Beastie is Ardbeg´s smokiest whisky ever.

The nose smells like a beach bonfire with a heavy bacon note.

This is a young and strong malt, soaked in peat, quite meaty, with an unexpected wave of sweetness that makes you stay and delicious traces of chocolate on the palate.

The finish is long and pleasantly warm, rich in BBQ smoke and a refreshing medicinal note.

Wee Beastie demands a bit of perseverance to fully enjoy its heavy tasting notes. A bit of water helps releasing sweetness while tuning down the heavy smoke presence.

Even though I usually do not recommend using fine single malts as mixers this is one that does well in cocktails that demand a smoky spirit.

Overall, Ardbeg Wee Beastie is a bold malt, with super heavy smoke presence that demands a qualified drinker to enjoy.

If you are new to this whisky this is absolutely off-limits but if you have enjoyed other peaty monsters such as Laphroaig or Talisker Storm this will be a good addition to your cabinet.

There are a few facts worth knowing about the Wee Beastie:

• Aged for 5 years using ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Oloroso is known for its nutty and sweet flavor and there is something of it in the Wee Beastie.

• This release is not limited, it has become a permanent addition to the lineup.

• Wee Beastie is non-chill-filtered and a free of caramel-coloring whisky.

Lagavulin 8

Nose	Popcorn, roasted nuts, wood, burnt sugar
Palate	Smoke, oak, caramel, herrings
Finish	Smoke, ash, apples, almonds
Alcohol content	96 proof (48% ABV)
How to drink	Add water
Similar to	Ardbeg 10, Talisker 8, Offerman Edition

The nose is high on smoke, with a hint that reminds of popcorn, roasted nuts, oak and burnt sugar.

The palate offers a nice creamy feel making it chewy. Flavor is strong on the smoke, but once you get through that initial layer of smoke there is rich caramel sweetness, along a note that brings herrings.

The finish is long, pleasantly warm, bringing more smoke, along cigar ash, along apple and almond.

This malt is incredibly well balanced. Strong smoky notes but enough caramel to make it sweet and supremely rewarding.

This is a rich, complex and flavorful whisky that displays some of the mineral notes characteristic of Islay whiskies, along sweetness behind a thick layer of smoke.

Drink it neat and if you find it too smoky tune it down with a splash of water, just a few drops are enough to tame this whisky … a bit.

Lagavulin 8 was introduced in 2016 to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary, success was such that it became a regular in the Lagavulin lineup.

Definitely not the easiest whisky as it demands a persistent drinker to go through a brick of smoke.

There are a few facts worth knowing about this Scotch:

• Aged for 8 years in ex-bourbon barrels.

• Double gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

• Double gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

Wee Beastie vs Lagavulin 8: Price comparison

Prices are approximate and stated in USD:

Whisky	Price
Ardbeg Wee Beastie	$50
Lagavulin 8	$69

Wee Beastie vs Lagavulin 8: Which is better?

Lagavulin is easier to drink

Whiskey	Lagavulin 8	Talisker 10
Nose	✅	✅
Body	✅	✅
Palate	✅	✅
Finish	✅	✅
Value	✅	✅

• These are not easy whiskies as they demand perseverance and endure heavy blasts of smoke.

• Lagavulin is more approachable and sweeter making the easier of the two.

• Wee Beastie is a beast that takes a lot of determination to fully enjoy its overly smoky profile.