Ardbeg An Oa

Nice for a peated, not for me but good

Kleur: gelig, licht Geur: kampvuur maar niet overdreven, zeker ook zoetig en kruidig. Pallet: voor de subtiele Ardbeg is hij verassend donker rokerig, helemaal niet subtiel, mooie combi van zoet en rook. Qua turf-whisky echt mijn ding dit.

Nose: classic Ardbeggian ashy peat, maple/honey smoked ham, rich, sweet, and earthy PX sherry comes through but in a balanced way that doesn't overpower the other casks or the peat. A hint of black pepper. Vanilla. A touch of burnt orange peel. Palate: rich, full bodied yet a bit less so than a heavily sherried malt. Earthy peat, a touch of tobacco, lots of ash and soot. The sweetness from the PX casks is noticeable here, but not quite enough to give a dominant fruit note, there's a bit of red fruit here and there but it's mostly just an undergirding fruit sweetness. Finish: plenty of phenolic peat and a touch of burnt meat, while also retaining a nice lingering earthy sweetness