Ardbeg An Oa / 46.6% / 0.7l
- In the early spring we have heard some rumours about new addition to the Ardbeg range but the company was very secret on details.
Product description
We had heard rumours back in early spring that Ardbeg was planning to expand its core offering, but the details were not made available to us until the end of August.
Here we present An Oa, the latest offering from the iconic distillery that bears the name of the peninsula, the southernmost part of the Isle of Islay. The whisky is the first permanent addition to Ardbeg’s range since 2009 (the debut of Corryvreckan), which previously included Uigeadail, Corryvreckan and TEN. It is made from spirits aged in a variety of casks, including Pedro Ximénez sherry, bourbon and virgin oak, all of which are combined in a special Gathering Vat constructed from French oak.
Nose: sweet and smoky, lots of peat, candied lemon peel, pine needles, vanilla, toffee, raisins, bananas, peaches, notes of pepper and anise.
Taste: pleasantly balanced, peat smoke, vanilla cream, honey, raisins, dates, grapefruit, notes of pepper, anise and cloves and a light oak bitterness.
Finish: quite long, smoky, with notes of vanilla, milk chocolate, licorice and oak.