Ardbeg BizarreBQ is a typical modern Ardbeg. No age statement, a fancy name and some kind of special cask – barbecue casks in this case, heavily charred. They added Pedro Ximénez and ‘regular’ charred casks to the mix as well. Other than that, the information is quite scarce.
Ardbeg BizarreBQ (50,9%, OB 2023, double charred oak + PX + BBQ casks)
Nose: plenty of char indeed, with hints of burnt plastic, fatty bacon and sherry sweetness. Hints of black tea and oranges. Smoked meat with alight dirtiness and subtle herbal notes. Not particularly medicinal, more in the direction of Lagavulin I’d say. It’s good.
Mouth: still dark, slightly meaty, now also adding a firm herbal and medicinal side. Some youngish mezcal in the background. Then peanuts, tobacco leaves, bonfire smoke, earthy peat and dark Lapsang tea. Old leather and hints of toasted bread as well as toffee or molasses sweetness.
Finish: quite long, with coffee notes, creosote, iodine and smouldering barbecue ash.
BizarreBQ has a nice charred darkness – maybe not quite Alligator but better than Scorch in any case. It is coupled to sherry sweetness, herbs and a meaty touch to get a reasonable depth. I really like the coffee notes as well. Decent Ardbeg.