Ardbeg An Oa

Went in to buy the Uigeadail and came out with the An Oa. Not my typical story...but felt adventurous and in the mood to save a few bucks. So to the whisky, I can say there is decent smoke in the bottle when nosing but it lessens in the glass. It smells of the sweeter finish from the various caskings. To compare within my limited exposure, the taste is 40-50 % Lagavulin as to the smoked meat part of it and the Laphroaig peat and seaweed is in attendance as well, but it all rounds up nicely with the sherry influence. This whisky seems to be a fine example of an even compromise between the two worlds of scotch...the peat smoke and the sweeter fruity casking. The finish has a very decent lingering smoke and peat after the sweetness of fruit and floral has faded. I see this as much less of a one-sided affair than many an other fine tasting whisky (I'm thinking Laphroaig 10 here). So I would recommend this to anyone considering a well done blend of the two great influences upon Scotch. If this is what Ardbeg was aiming for, they have hit the mark nicely, especially at this price point. This is an anytime, any day whisky which I find thoroughly satisfying. A toe in the ocean of Islay peat/smoke and a toe in the ocean of sweeter fruit/floral blended very well together. Something tells me the art of making fine whisky such as this is well afoot and may also well serve to diminish the fears that purists (of which I am usually one) have against the consolidation ongoing in the industry. Time and taste will tell. $59.99 in PA

See my review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uhmZGwvj0g

The An Oa's peat has a more vegetal character to it, not the upfront medicinal style that I like so much about the 10yr. It's softer too, with less of a sting on the cheeks. Salt, sweetness (honey and lemon), a little nutty (peanuts?), and a slight bitter finish. I like the 10 more, and for a lower cost. 3 1/2. Newly opened bottle...maybe it'll open up given time.