ARDBEG BIZZAREBQ | Whisky Made For Grilling

Today we sample this unique release from Ardbeg - the BizzareBQ. In association with DJ BBQ & Bill Lumsden. Let's see what the fuss is all about.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 INTRO
01:27 INITIAL THOUGHTS
11:11 THE TASTING
16:29 FINAL THOUGHTS
WHISKEY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY MACALLAN BOURBON IRISH RYE BLENDED TOP WHISKIES
"whiskey", "types of whiskey", "whiskey brands", "whiskey production", "whiskey history", "whiskey tasting notes", "whiskey recipes"

[@silverdale6780]

"I was going to buy it anyway" perfectly sums up my relationship with Ardbeg...should be released soon in my area, and can't wait to give them my money!

[@MaltActivist]

haha you and me both brother. You and me both!

[@BTR9091]

I picked this up from the distillery last month. I agree it’s a decent dram and not a bad price given recent releases.

[@MaltActivist]

I'd have to agree with you mate!

[@darrenpellichino2923]

I really like this ardbeg. I can't explain it but it has more of the things I look for in a peated whisky. It's so salty and sweet maybe more salty than normal. Mine has sat for two months and now it is fantastic! Have a great day everyone =)

[@darrenpellichino2923]

I wish I had a better sense of picking out flavors because there is alot of things going on in this one. More than I can pick out.

[@thewhiskyenthusiast]

Nice dude! From the description I was intrigued and like you I was expecting a punchy, hefty, smoke bomb. It's surprising that this one is sweet but peat&sherry is kind of a foolproof recipe so there we have it. Cheers man, thanks for this 🥃

[@MaltActivist]

Hey bro. Yeah quite surprisingly sweet.

[@troublesome89]

Was finally able to get my hands on this bottle. Very hard to find in my area. However, best Ardbeg I ever had! Better than 10, the Uggy, the Corry, the Supernove, or the Hypernova.

[@MaltActivist]

It's a solid dram in my opinion

[@FEWGEE1]

I have just started on my second bottle of this. Some days I love it. Some days I find it a bit acrid. But overall, I think it is best quality/value limited run whisky Ardbeg have released for quite some time.

[@MaltActivist]

I quite like it tbh

[@cliffnorman178]

Your honestly and integrity is so admirable, even though the whisky is a bit of a mockery of whisky lovers.

[@MaltActivist]

haha Cliff! It's really not that bad - I'm being honest

[@cecilrobbins5182]

Yo, MA, good to be back with you again. I was very influenced by your review of Smoketrails and I finally got a liter bottle and I love it. So, I thought I'd look up your feelings on Bizzarebq. I really have enjoyed Bizzarebq. Got it in the summer and snagged a couple more bottles for the stash. We Barbq often and I can say, as a true American Ardbeggian, this pairs PERFECTLY with Barbequed Pork!!! Not so much a grilled steak. With bbq ribs you have the sauce and the sweet pork meat and a bit of char.....PERFECTION!!! I have to add that I tasted the Smoketrails with your video and spot on! Ardbeggian all the way. I've got this giant Liter bottle for $103 USD so about $70 a 700ml. A very reasonable price. And Bizzarebq for $90 and I'm happy. I don't know what Brits do for actual BBQ Pork but that's the perfect match.....Perfect.

[@MaltActivist]

That sounds awesome!

[@ASIRIDesigns]

The DJ BBQ guy is gained his fame because he was on Jamie Oliver's network. He knows this stuff when it comes to BBQ!

[@MaltActivist]

aha! I see..

[@gerritgreveling]

My two bottles arrived at the post office yesterday. Ik looks great on my shelf. For my Ardbeg collection. At least one. The other one is for consuming of course. Curious about it. I did not pop the cork yesterday but soon. I want the moment to be perfect. The best moment is in the morning but with a full time job today is not a option. Probably this weekend.

[@MaltActivist]

Well, the weekend it is !

[@WhiskeyStraightAl]

Cool name and label. I really do need to try more Ardbeg to see if I can find some affinity with it. Cheers buddy.

[@MaltActivist]

Well, there's nothing left to do but drink more Ardbeg!

[@warrenhurley5787]

I'm relatively new to Scotch Whisky and Ardbeg has become my favorite distiller so far. Love the Wee Beastie and An Oa so I'm looking forward to trying this special release. This review was pretty solid so I think I know what to expect. Question for Malt Activist: what is the difference between this "special release" versus a "committee release"? Thanks!

[@MaltActivist]

Committee Releases normally come once a year for the Feis Ile. Special Releases are usually one-off bottlings. Also CRs are usually at cask strength.

[@welshtoro3256]

I've been sort of considering buying this but I'm conscious that I would be an idiot to do so and that's why I wanted to hear your opinion my good old friend. We know you are a shameless Ardbeg fanboy and waste your money on endless amount of expensive rubbish and take that into consideration. I have always enjoyed ash in Ardbeg and any expression that delivers that has my interest. Trouble is the sweetness, the NAS, and the price. So many Ardbegs are uber-expensive that cheap-expensive so one raises an eyebrow. All the signals I'm getting from this is it's twice the price it ought to be. That's why we love fan-boy reviews. Cheers. WT

[@pillcozby431]

Yeeeeees. Love this bottle. It does taste like BBQ sauce. Lmao

[@MaltActivist]

Sure, if you stretch the imagination a bit!

[@TheReal_DeanD]

Well I hope it's good. I was able to get it for $87 all in on a Total Wine pre order. I think Ardbeg is kind of having fun with this branding and marketing. Sometimes they go overboard but what's the alternative? Be stuffy and old looking?

[@MaltActivist]

I gotta agree with you on that

[@customer9845]

I pick up special and committees releases whenever I see them. Lately I have been lucky enough to find Hypernova and Bizzarebbq at MSRP. I couldn't find Heavy Vapors but based upon recent reviews I saved me some $$$$.

[@MaltActivist]

I think you'll like BizarreBQ

[@djskratchworx]

now thats intriguing.....i love your shirt though... can i have one?... 😂 😂 😂

[@MaltActivist]

haha for that we will have to go back in time to 2017 !

[@bishanf]

What are your thought’s when comparing this to the An Oa? Since that’s also kinda sweet.

[@MaltActivist]

This is a touch more complex than An Oa in my opinion

[@vimalrajkappil]

Have you tried Bunnahabhain's New Release Fèis Ìle ..but its bit costly

[@MaltActivist]

I have! Review coming up shortly

[@ARad-ul7kd]

Whenever somebody gives their opinion of something and says, "Its not bad" or in this case, "there's nothing wrong with it"...I tend to feel that its bang average. Even though I am a huge fan of Ardbeg I can't justify spending money on a product that is basically OK. In general I feel that Ardbeg have backed themselves into a corner recently with their recent releases. There seems to be a huge drive on charring, smokey and now BBQ inspired bottlings when Ardbeg are already renowned for all those aspects. It all feels a bit played out. Where are the fun, inspiring, experimental bottles that nobody see's coming and taste utterly brilliant? I will always love Ardebg but.....I do feel that they need to step up and remind their loyal fans of why we do love them so dearly.

[@MaltActivist]

I agree it's a bit of a contentious talking point. But sometimes I wonder how much product innovation can you really do? So I think by mixing up the recipes & introducing new elements in the process and then dressing them up with good marketing prose is probably the only way to go. I mean how experimental can you really get ultimately? This is a chat for a different forum I guess.

[@ARad-ul7kd]

@@MaltActivist I hear you and in fairness they have been experimental in the past given they have put whisky into space and matured whisky in the sea but I feel more recently they are re-inventing the wheel with the over reliance on charring. By way of an example, Jackie sent out an email to committee members to say that the last few bottles of Heavy Vapours were almost sold out. Two years ago that would have never happened as people (committee members) were moaning that they couldn't get their hands on releases. Possibly they have more whisky available due to the expansion of the distillery but I honestly feel that its a reflection on what they are producing alongside the cost of living crisis which also makes people think twice if they are sitting on the fence. Anyway, too much to discuss here, I hope to continue our discussion if we meet! 😊

[@stevenj3152]

7.5 that's a harsh score from the fanboy :) I was expecting higher. I have got no issue with NAS, when it's done well,. At the same time Ardbeg have proudly got a 5 year old so why not just put the age on the bottle somewhere, or go into the depth on the website like another Islay distillery is fond of doing. When it comes to peat young can be good. I'd rather young whisky using good barrels, than 40% and colouring added. Time has moved on, different whisky for different folks and a' that. Just be honest about it, educate for those who want to be educated. I used to seek out these Ardbegs, but for the moment at least, until the next FOMO wave occurs, I think I might just be sticking to core range which I somewhat overlooked...can't buy them all right

[@MaltActivist]

I agree brother! Though I think 7.5 is a good score for a good whisky.

[@orlybriceno]

I honestly though the BBQ casks were ex-bourbon casks 'seasoned' with BBQ sauce hehe

[@MaltActivist]

I don't think that would have worked !! hahah

[@djbbq]

I’ll grill a steak for ya!!!!

[@MaltActivist]

Lets do it!!!! Would love to do a video/podcast with you.

[@theseeker3771]

I seldom buy these Ardbeg special releases.....only if they're actually pretty good which relatively few of them seem to be. But this one seems to be good.... Just ordered two....thanks.

[@MaltActivist]

I quite liked this one tbh

[@theseeker3771]

@@MaltActivist Ordered another two. The place online I ordered the first two were sold out after two hours..... Universal consensus is that this is a pretty good one.

[@MaltActivist]

@@theseeker3771 Hope you like it dude!

[@throwlefty8397]

I was with you until i got past the neck pour. It gets even better

[@stingfan24]

Pretty sub par whisky at above average price.

[@MaltActivist]

To each their own my brother. I thought it was quite decent but then I like flavors like these.

[@stingfan24]

@@MaltActivist You're 100% right. Keep up the great work with the channel!

[@theseeker3771]

Yep... But you'll be able to sell it for two or three times the price if you hang onto it.... For better or worse it's probably a good investment....like all Scotch whisky has been these past 10 years or so....prices have gone nuts and some people have made money or at least, made their hobby pay for itself.

[@stingfan24]

@@theseeker3771 I honestly doubt that. looking at various auctions sites, I see that these bottles are barely going for their original price. Now, if you hold on to them for a decade or more, maybe they'll go up 50%, but they're also getting such mixed reviews that even that is not certain. I don't know anyone who is able to pay for their whisky hobby by flipping bottles. I think the marketing wants to make us thing these are investments, but they are not. The time to be collecting whisky was in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s.

[@theseeker3771]

@@stingfan24 It's just a question of time.....In five years these bottles will be at least double the price...in ten years, probably triple if not much more. I've been watching the market, the auctions and buying whisky as an investment for the past 20 years. I've seen the price of all my bottles increase on the auction websites... Even the mediocre ones I picked have doubled.... But that is because of the crazy price increases in whisky in general. For instance look at what has happened to the price of Talisker 18 and Aberlour Abunadh... I have lots of these which I bought for around 50 quid... Just look up the value now. Possibly harder now to easily make money on whisky since the prices seem to be at about what people will tolerate... but who knows.... if you can pick a great bottling that is limited or rare then once those bottles have sold out in the stores then people will pay more to get those bottles.... Admittedly with Ardbeg they do saturate the market with limited editions...but it's a question of picking the good ones.. from what I hear this seems to be a good and popular bottling which, once it is harder to find, inevitably the price will increase.....