An Oa is named after the Mull of Oa in the south west of Islay, which offers the Kildaton coast (where Ardbeg distillery is situated) some protection from the worst the Atlantic has to offer! As such, Ardbeg An Oa is intended to show a more approachable side to Ardbeg single malt that's as rounded as the Oa peninsula, without losing the characteristic distillery style. In the summer of 2017 this became the first addition to Ardbeg's core range in over a decade.
Maturation took place in a combination of casks including Pedro Ximénez, charred virgin oak and ex-bourbon, which were all brought together to marry in Dr. Bill Lumsden's new 'Gathering Vat'!
This sweet, creamy Ardbeg offers notes of butterscotch, fennel seed, tobacco leaf, Honey Nut Clusters and hints of mixed boiled sweets (fruit, Everton mint and menthol). The citrus notes are subtle and rich, coming through as flourless orange cake.
Still plenty of peaty oomph, although perhaps lighter in body. Notes of cigars and golden syrup flapjacks with sweet black tea on the tail and hints of chocolate limes.
Smoky treacle lingers with a little peanut brittle.
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Gold colour, legs slow to run, oily, waxy. Nose - smoke, cigar ash, chocolate, aniseed, orange, black pepper waxes and wanes as do most of the flavours, strongly tannic, dry to the nose. Palate - smokey, black pepper, cigar ash, orange, very tannic from the 8% tannin content of the Limousin Oak and the PX casks. Virgin wood comes through a little piney and resinous. Spicy clove cinnamon ginger nutmeg from the virgin wood . IMO some wine casking here, possibly Cabernet Sauvignon. Finish - smokey and dry, spicy, orange, very tannic, some background chocolate. Conclusion - best of the NAS Ultimate range IMO. Excellent blending of different cask types. A fantastic whisky. Proof, if it was needed that NAS whiskies can taste absolutely Devine. Better than Dark Cove, Corryvreckin or Uigedail, all of which IMO are great whiskies, but this latest addition is superb.
If you are into Ardbeg, you will indeed like this whiskey. I didn't much go for the Kelpie, but I feel like An Oa is simply wonderful. Still has the peat, but more sweetness, and the ABV is more along the lines of a normal whiskey. Glad this is now part of the core range, otherwise, I would be tempted to buy and collect a lot of it. I wouldn't be surprised to see the price rise on it though.
I think this may be the best Ardbeg since "the Beist!" (of which it reminds me more than a little). An absolute steal at the price.
Now I am a very big fan of Ardbeg with both oogie and corry being 2 of my all time favorites. This is something different for sure but really quite excellent. Definitely peppery, creamy ,milk chocolate is quite prevalent as well,lots of black tea, classic Ardbeg peat and seaweed character. I only wish this was cask strength. It's not oogie or corry but it is certainly Ardbeg. The Sugarbear
Definitely prefer lagavulin or an aged glenalmostanything over this. Reminds me of a burnt talisker or barely drinkable jonnie walker double black. Maybe dilution and breathing helps, but much more experimentation than planned will be needed to kill this bottle.
