For some fans of scotch whiskey, smokiness is the whole point of drinking the spirit. The added aromas and flavors of smoky peat are what primarily differentiate scotch from other malted whiskey products. Bourbon drinkers often say that they don’t like the taste of scotch, and some malted barley spirits market themselves as “scotch for bourbon lovers” or “Irish whiskey for people that love bourbon.” And that’s OK.
But Ardbeg is unapologetically focused on their love of smoke, and fans of this product from the Islay region of Scotland wouldn’t have it any other way. If you’re one of those smoke lovers, you need to mark your calendar for July 30 through Aug. 1 when Ardbeg brings their “Monsters of Smoke Tour” to Middle Tennessee.
The tour will arrive in a specially decorated all-terrain vehicle, aptly named “Wee Beastie” after one of their smokiest products, a young five-year-old scotch. During the tour, Wee Beastie will park at local spirits stores to offer tastings, augmented reality photo opps, giveaways and other surprises. If you do happen to take any photos and share them socially, be sure to use the tags #monstersofsmoketour and #ardbegusa for your best chance at winning something cool.
Here’s where the Wee Beastie will be and when they’ll be there:
July 30, 3-6 p.m.
Red Spirits & Wine
7066 US-70s
July 31, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Cool Springs Wines & Spirits
1935 Mallory Ln
July 31, 4-7 p.m.
Midtown Corkdorks Wine Spirits Beer
1610 Church St
Aug 1, 12-3 p.m.
Frugal MacDoogal
701 Division St
With more than 200 years of experience in the distilling business, you know that Ardbeg knows what they’re doing, so drop by for a wee dram of history!
