Ardbeg An Oa Neue Ausstattung

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46.6% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Ardbeg An Oa owes its rounded character to the interplay of whiskies matured in different casks. These include whiskies from Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, first-fill bourbon casks and new charred oak casks. Ardbeg marries them in its Gathering Vat, bringing a creamy sweetness alongside the pronounced peat smoke.

The name refers to the Mull of Oa peninsula, which shelters Ardbeg’s location on Islay’s south coast from the full force of the Atlantic. This single malt is bottled at 46.6% alcohol without chill filtration or added colour. The 0.7-litre bottle comes in redesigned gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, smoke and creamy toffee mingle with anise, dark sugar syrup and dates. Peach and banana add fruitiness; with a little water, lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar emerge. A light salty note and seaweed evoke the coast.
• Palate: An Oa feels soft and creamy on the palate, with pronounced syrupy sweetness. Milk chocolate, toffee, orange and anise meet smoky tea leaves, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cigar smoke and an unusual bitter note of grilled artichoke add further contrast.
• Finish: The long, sweet finish lingers with anise, hickory and restrained smoke. Floral hints, mint toffee and a little malty biscuit are accompanied by sweet tobacco and delicate spice.

Distillery/Bottler:

Ardbeg distils its single malt on Islay’s south coast. The distillery traces its roots to a licensed enterprise founded by John Macdougall in 1815. After periods of closure, it resumed regular production in 1997 under The Glenmorangie Company.

The malt used for Ardbeg is dried over burning peat, giving it its characteristic smoke. During distillation, a purifier returns some of the heavier vapours to the still. The additional contact with copper helps bring out fruity and sweet aspects of the spirit alongside the smoke. Ardbeg produces An Oa itself and bottles it as an official distillery release.

Facts: