Ardbeg An Oa

I wasn't crazy about this on the first few tastes, but it's started to come around about halfway down the bottle. The flavors seem to occupy a sort of middle ground between Wee Beastie and Uigeadail. There's a little bit of fruit and chocolate on top of the peat, but the peat is quite meaty and tastes somewhat ashy and younger like the Beastie. I bought the bottle for $47 and the Beastie was only a couple dollars less, so this is definitely a better value. It's tasty enough, but I'm not sure that I'll be itching to buy another right away when i finish this one. At the same store, the 10 year is only $2 more, and i think it's a bit better. I'm also currently able to buy the 9 year Lagavulin GOT version for about the same price and i enjoy it more, so peatbucks will likely be going that direction for the time being.

Smoked meats with a surprisingly smoothness and complexity. Subtle medicinal taste. Sweet peaty finish

A nice nose, but a more meaty body. Rich spices that added a bit of heat to a smooth dram. Lots of smoke and cinnamon on the finish.

Medium peat, vanilla oak, rich and medium oil finish

Very very smoky. Have to be in the mood. Probably a no buy