Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie VS Lagavulin 8 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Round 1)

[@jackthepickledhound]

Two years later......the Lag 8 has improved even more. The Wee Beastie, almost 2 years down to the top of the label and it's still a big meaty nose, simple punch of ashy green fruits on the palate and a minty finish. I love my rye, but I don't always dig that mint. The Lag, which I decanted into a 375ml, God knows when, is now a sweeter rounder much more integrated dram. I haven't had a 10 year old Islay whisky open in quite a while so this is a nice head to head of some dusty bottles. I really enjoyed this series you did way back when, and then the sherry was awesome too. Thanks for taking us on this journey with you!!!!

[@freddiejones4598]

The lagavulin 16 is probably my favourite scotch whiskey

[@thomasb1813]

I’ve never had an Ardbeg that I didn’t like.

[@lh8372]

Can’t wait to try both! Digging Islay malts. Love your vids, keep it up.

[@cliffnorman178]

Another great comparison review. Really like the Lagavulin 8 and look forward to trying the Ardbeg 5. Thanks Erik.

[@agrainofmalt]

Enjoy this head to head, Erik! And that fact you're revisiting the bottle once it has been opened for a bit... definitely one I expect to change. Can't wait til I can find a bottle near me.

[@UsedBrain4U]

Unfortunately the selection of the Big Three Islay Scotches is quite limited in Ontario. I have only had a bottle of the Lag8. I like it a lot and I used it to turn a number of people onto Islay Scotches. If the Wee Beastie comes here I will definitely be getting one.

[@Kvs-vf9nt]

Look online👍 You'll find it.

[@flying_hussar3034]

I am really curious about this Ardbeg. Hopefully it will be available here in the UK soon. Nice comparison Erik

[@mistermalt3234]

Interesting Review. I had a bottle of the Lagavulin 8 and I was not impressed. In the moment i have a Bunnahabhain Stoaisha 4 y old in my glass. This is big fun for peat lovers. Cheers mate.

[@Jameus01]

Really great review, Erik! I'm excited to try and pick up a Wee Beastie! I too am an Ardbeg lover, but the few Lagavulin bottles I've tried are also very good. It would appear that the choice to age in sherry casks in addition to the bourbon really helped the Ardbeg develop more flavor at such a young age. Thanks for doing this side by side for us.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I have at least two more competitors that will be going up against the Ardbeg Wee Beastie, so stay tuned!

[@revolvermaster4939]

Been a Laphroaig fanatic for 40+ years and just tried the Lagavulin 8 yesterday not expecting much, but surprised to find I like it a lot. Saw the Ardbeg 5 at the store today, didn’t get it because my favorite whiskies are usually 12-18 y/o and 5 scared me. Going back tonight to get it based on your thorough review and the last few years it’s impossible to find my favorites!

[@Coffeendonuts]

Wee beastie is excellent don’t be fooled by the young age.

[@revolvermaster4939]

@@Coffeendonuts yeah, it’s one of my gotos now, love it!

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

Okay, I ran out and bought a bottle of Finlaggan O.R. for $25, and I forgot how much I like this stuff. I have no idea what it is? People have told me that it's got to be Caol Ila, but my instincts tell me it's Lagavulin. So very enjoyable, and much better from memory, than bottlings from a year or two ago. No vinegariness, and far more developed than I recall.

[@revolvermaster4939]

Your whiskey collection looks like my cigar collection! WOW, zoomed in and I’m jealous.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

It's an obsession. 🥃

[@revolvermaster4939]

@@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies it absolutely is

[@matthewjryan4574]

great review ! i really love them both...i am a true lagavulin lover at heart but i do have a strong soft spot for ardbeg. saying that i agree its a real back and forth what one could be better.

[@courtcomposer]

Thanks Erik. What I love about the 8 is the doughy/cereal character unique to the 8 and the 12.

[@rob850]

Would love some of these in little $hooters. 5-10 each would be proper. Gotta find a tasting bar.

[@theorangevestarmy4255]

Ardbeg 5👍

[@johng5710]

Lag 8 probably $20-$30 more than Ardbeg 5 where I'm at

[@stanislavmigra]

Lag 8 is twice the price of Ardbeg 5 here :-O

[@Kvs-vf9nt]

Lag8 55euro and Ardbeg5 44euro. Not much difference here in Belfium

[@Coffeendonuts]

They are the same wheee I’m at

[@zedman8720]

Hi Eric, Excellent reviews. keep them coming. Would there be much difference if you compared the Lagavulin 8 year old 200th anniversary edition?

[@michaelmills9796]

When I'm trying different whiskeys, and they seem to be similar, I have rinsed out my mouth with warmer water. Almost as hot as fresh coffee. The warmer water breaks down the oils and tends to wash them away better. Just my experience. I don't know if it will work for you. Another great review Eric. Thanks

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try!

[@dccoletrain]

I like the Ardbeg because it’s $35 cheaper here at TW....

[@funkyskypilot]

For me the nose of the Ardbeg 5 has an over-ripe funk of slightly decaying tropical fruit about it. The Lagavulin 8, for me, is more citrusy and - contrary to Eric - has a fresher nose and cleaner finish.

[@ronaldbeerguy]

I really like mint chocolate and mint in general. I still haven’t seen it in Canada yet. I’m really looking forward to tasting the 5 year especially if the price point is reasonable. Good head to head vid. 😃🥃👌🏻

[@foodquig]

I'm a sucker for Ardbeg... When the 5 gets here, I will probably buy the first bottle I see on the spot.

[@gseivert]

I already did. Grabbed it right out of the box.

[@drax14QC]

@@gseivert talking about boxes, it would be nice if the Ardbeg Wee Beastie came with a box.. :/

[@Kvs-vf9nt]

I prefer the Lagavulin8 it's 55euro and ardbeg 5 is 44euro. Not that expensive. I love them both.

[@michaelhassler7446]

Choosing your favorite Islay, isn't too far away from choosing your favorite child.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

LOL!

[@Yourturntolaught]

Interesting

[@undivided_unified]

I tried both and I am going with the Ardbeg 5, its more layered and flavorful. The younger lagavulin's just dont deliver. The 9 yr GOT was underwhelming and not a very good showing either. Ardbeg, it really is in a class of its own.

[@Longenecker1776]

I couldn’t disagree with you more. There’s so much to love about the Lagavulin 8…

[@jasrfjr]

I love the Lagavulin 8. It is probably my favorite young whisky. The thing about the Ardbeg 5 Wee Beastie I can't get past, is the aspartame/Diet Coke/artificial sweetener taste. Totally off-putting for me, although I love Ardbeg 10.

[@MrChristopherMolloy]

I paid $40 for that Ardbeg 5, and Lagavulin 8 goes for about $60+, Lagavulin 16 only a few bucks more, I think I can find 16 for $65. Similarly, Ardbeg 10 only sells for a few bucks more too, like $46, so there seems to be a pattern. I agree that about halfway down the bottle, Ardbeg 5 get a lot more interesting, and yes, "fresher". If you have a bottle of a Islay peated mystery malt, like Finlaggan Old Reserve (under $25), I'd love to see you compare it to that Ardbeg 5. Cheers!

[@johng5710]

I paid $40 for my Ardbeg 5 also...wow Lag 16 is like $90 where I'm at.

[@primewhisky]

Think the Ardbeg is better than the Lagavulin😋

[@jusakaju]

Hei Primewhisky. Just talked to you yesterday:) Erik, it´s so funny. I got a notification of your video and was just about to watch it when my phone rang and it was FedEx informing me that my Wee Beasty has just arrived from Italy. I thought I´d have a taste first and then watch your video. I wanted to have an oppinion before I got yours. I also got the sweetness with a ton load of smoke. When I added water I got cigar smoke in the finish. I also tasted the An Oa and liked that as well. Got sweetness there as well. I had a blind tase session a few weeks back and got 4/6 drams right. I mixed up lagavullin and Laphroaig 10. That goes to show you it´s difficult to compare so many at one sitting. If I had Lagavullin now and Lap 10 one hour after I could most likly tell them apart. Had a small Corryvrekan yesterday and it was heaven. Uigedail and corry are for sure my favorites. Now the An Oa was ok so I think, cause of the price, that might be my go to whisky. Also the Wee 5 as well as the smoke really hits you and I´m all for that. In my 6 dram test Uigeadail came on top and I only got the corry right cause of it´s ABV. Oh boy, Islay drams are fun. I will allways drink Laphroaig but Ardbeg has become my favorite. I also got the Quarter Cask for 36 euros from Italy on the same shipment as the beasty. Me likes that price.Thanks Erik for yet a great video.

[@johng5710]

I actually enjoyed the GoT Lag 9 more than the Lag 8

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

I'm not a GOT fan so I did't get into all the GOT whiskies hype.

[@RobertSmith-tt5qv]

ARDBEG!

[@kyleniezgodzki6198]

The Cult wins again! 😂

[@Longenecker1776]

You’re not saying Lagavulin right.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

All I can say is this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKLPoZ-NaM6MeJI

[@utoobia]

Un-pro tip (but it works for me)…Use warm water - really warm - to cleanse palate between drams.

[@welshtoro3256]

The Lagavulin 8 with knackered Diageo casks. The Ardbeg is five years old. Why buy either other than chucking money away for curiosity. I'll probably do it and would like to eat my words but I doubt it. Why not buy the Ardbeg 10?

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Welsh Toro that is Round 3 in this competition.

[@bourbonryescotch1]

@Welsh Toro From a rational point of view the Ardbeg pricing doesn’t make sense. Ardbeg Wee Beastie is €40 here, while the Ten is €37. So out of curiosity and also it’s the initial batch now, I got a bottle of Beastie. Still need to taste it next to the Ten.

[@johng5710]

@@bourbonryescotch1 Where I'm at it makes more sense. The Ardbeg 5 is at $40, while the Ardbeg 10 is around $55, and the 5-year is at higher ABV.

[@Kvs-vf9nt]

I like the 5 better than the 10.. and the 10 is only 5euros more expensive.

[@welshtoro3256]

@@Kvs-vf9nt I did go ahead and buy the Wee Beastie and I did eat my words. I like it and the sherry influence justifies it as sufficiently different to the 10 and worth a buy in it's own right. I'm on record saying how Ardbeg spotted a an opportunity to get another cheapish expression on the market which is good for them and us.

[@joe9042]

Erik as a Scotsman, please do us the respect of not describing our goods, as 'whiskey.' Scottish WHISKY has always been spelled that way. Not, the Irish spelling, or bourbons. Not asking much. Joe Scotland.

[@ErikWaitWhiskyStudies]

Do your study of history. When Scotch whisky was first legally defined in Scotland it was originally spelled with an "e".