Ardbeg added another entry to their main line in 2017, the An Oa (pronounced “an oh”) is named after the Mull of Oa located near the distillery. It was released with a quirky little video by way of introduction. The focus of the An Oa is that it has spent time in Ardbeg’s gathering vat, where whisky from many different cask types are blended together. The casks included here are from new charred oak, ex-PX sherry, and first fill bourbon casks, though there is no information on how much of each kind is included. There is also no information on how old any of the whiskies blended into this single malt are, though that is common for No Age Statements.
Distillery: Ardbeg
Region: Islay
Age: NAS
Strength: 46.6%
Price: $64.99
Maturation: ex-new charred oak, ex-PX sherry and first fill bourbon
Location: Port Ellen
Nose: Peat, smoke, cinnamon, vanilla
Palate: Ash, peat, smoke
Finish: Smoke, molasses
Comments:
Adam – This An Oa really sneaks up on you. The nose only has some subtle smoke at first, encouraging you to breathe deeper, and then that it catches you deep in the nose masquerading at first as the alcohol burn, with a little sweetness riding its coattails. The nose opens up to light, sweet peat. There’s a little bit more going on in the nose than some Ardbegs but it’s all dialed back and makes you work for it, which is a little unusual for this distillery. I wish the nose wasn’t so pungent with the alcohol tang at 46%. The palate is a little less exciting yet for all of that is still signature Ardbeg loveliness, a signature taste that will never grow old for me. The smoke is predominant here, lingering a little longer than maybe I was expecting it to. And not fresh smoke, but more of a dying fire smoke, an end of the evening when your buzz is winding down and you’re really drowsy kind of smoke. Just like the nose, there’s a slight sweetness to the smoke on the finish too, but it’s very muted. I wish the peat notes were stronger, but I wish that about everything and my tuna fish sandwich has yet to oblige me. Not sure how much influence any ex-PX sherry or first fill bourbon casks spilled into the vat are actually noticeable, but it has a few differing notes than the 10 year. At the end of the day, my quibbles should be seen as only that: quibbles. This is a solid Ardbeg that is unique in its own way and well priced for many shelves.
Meghan – Is there such a thing as a bad Ardbeg? I’m sure it’s possible (and some of the Committee/special releases have left me underwhelmed; if you are going to call something Kelpie, then I damn well better feel that seaweed smack me in the face) but, with this newer edition to their standard line, they made another Islay winner. There is a sweet spiced note hidden amongst the peat in the nose. Cinnamon, baking spice, and a tiny touch of vanilla. This hearkens it back to the Uigeadail. However, it is more reminiscent of the 10 year on the palate. It is ashier and a bit smokier than the 10 year, with less peat funk. It isn’t the cleanest tasting whisky, as the ash coats the tongue a bit too much. I’d like the smoke to stand out so it is more like a fire that is currently roaring versus one that has burnt down to the embers. Thanks to the PX cask, there is a richness to the finish that you don’t find in the other standard Ardbegs. It gives a deep molasses sweetness at the top of the throat to balance out the classic Ardbeg deep chest finish that doesn’t quit. If I had to chose just one Ardbeg to keep on my shelf, I think the An Oa would be it. It’s in close competition with the 10 year but I’m quite fond of the finish.
There aren’t a lot of layers to it but it keeps going forever.
Michael – It has incredible staying power.
Peter – Like when you’re around a bonfire at night and you bring out the smores and your marshmallow gets black. There aren’t a lot of layers to it but it keeps going forever.
Mary-Fred – A balanced nose, with depth and sharpness. It has very long staying power. It keeps going and going and going. For me, the smoke overwhelms almost any other flavor.
