Ardbeg
An Oa
- 46.6
- 70cl
- Taste: 4
- Islay
The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815 but there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie...
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The current Ardbeg distillery on Islay dates back to 1815 but there have been records of legal distilleries on the same site since 1794. Ardbeg was closed in the 1980’s when it belonged to Allied Domecq, who also owned Laphroaig. In 1990 they started to run the distillery for a few months each year to get filling for the blend Ballantines. In 1997 the distillery was sold to the Glenmorangie Company who, after updating the distillery, fully reopened it the following year. Moet Hennessy brought the whole company in 2004, and built a new still house in 2019, which is now running to capacity of 2.1 million litres of alcohol per year.
They named this bottling, the An Oa, after the peninsula that bears the same name. Ardbeg has employed a combination of whisky matured in sweet Pedro Ximenez, spicy Virgin charred oak, and intense ex-Bourbon casks, among others, where they familiarise themselves with each other. The result is a dram with smoky power, mellowed by a delectable, smooth sweetness.
Official Tasting Notes
Aroma - Rounded and smoky - like burning Applewood - with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates and suggestions of juicy fruits. Reminders of Ardbeg’s classic fragrance - lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. Gentle waxiness and hints of smoked herbs. A final subtle reminder of the sea with briny notes, seaweed, accompanied with creaminess.
Taste - A smooth, creamy texture leads into syrupy sweetness. Milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, nutmeg and cinnamon, cigar smoke, and an unusual flavour of grilled artichokes. Wood's always present, gently nutty. A long, sweet finish, with floral overtones, mint toffee and gentle malty biscuit notes.
Finish - Lingering, seductive, gentle yet intense. Flavours of aniseed, hickory and distant subtle smoke.
They named this bottling, the An Oa, after the peninsula that bears the same name. Ardbeg has employed a combination of whisky matured in sweet Pedro Ximenez, spicy Virgin charred oak, and intense ex-Bourbon casks, among others, where they familiarise themselves with each other. The result is a dram with smoky power, mellowed by a delectable, smooth sweetness.
Official Tasting Notes
Aroma - Rounded and smoky - like burning Applewood - with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates and suggestions of juicy fruits. Reminders of Ardbeg’s classic fragrance - lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. Gentle waxiness and hints of smoked herbs. A final subtle reminder of the sea with briny notes, seaweed, accompanied with creaminess.
Taste - A smooth, creamy texture leads into syrupy sweetness. Milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, nutmeg and cinnamon, cigar smoke, and an unusual flavour of grilled artichokes. Wood's always present, gently nutty. A long, sweet finish, with floral overtones, mint toffee and gentle malty biscuit notes.
Finish - Lingering, seductive, gentle yet intense. Flavours of aniseed, hickory and distant subtle smoke.
Tasting Rating Guide
1: Light, good for beginners - an aperitif on a summers day, i.e. Glengoyne, Auchentoshan
2: Also good for beginners but with more depth and body - a little stronger than 1, ie. Glenmorangie, Speyburn
3: A dram for everyone, a little more complex so the palate requires a little more experience, i.e. Cragganmore, Macallan
4: A stronger spirit, a big whisky with lots of character and body, excellent after dinner, i.e. Lagavulin, Laphroaig