Ardbeg An Oa

Great briny seaside smell as soon as you pop that top! If this is supposed to compete with the Laphroaig Triplewood, then they are doing well on the nose already. Honey with mint..pepper, and maybe some oranges. 46.6, so it's off to neat land! Medium mouth coat on oil. There was smoke on the nose, but not on the palate. I like it a lot better than the standard 10 because I am not getting lemon on the taste either. What I do get is refreshing peat, barley, malt, faint chocolate, and nuts... like a cashew with some spice..maybe nutmeg on the back end. The finish is medium length, but a little dry, with a ton of smoke - ashtray style. The only "complaint", and I use this word very lightly, would be that the deep smoke isn't here like an Oogie or Corry, but wow, for a nice summer/autumn dram, I can see getting this from time to time when I want something lighter. Even though it sounds complicated, it's not. $70 before tax!