Ardbeg An Oa

The color is light amber. Needless to say, peat immediately arrives on the nose, gentler than usual but still ashes, of burnt wood, with notes of raisins, vanilla, a touch of lemon and apple. The ocean appears a little muted in the background. Ardbeg, but different from the usual. The palate is warm and welcoming, with an initial alcoholic puncture, continuing in the wake of the lit bonfire on which caramelized oranges, licorice sticks, lemon zest, a pepper au gratin and a handful of seaweed are roasted. All very peaceful, smooth, without the muscle tone of other bottlings of the distillery. However, the burnt wood component tends to prevail. And in fact, in the end it is the ash that accompanies us for a long time, with a touch of licorice and pepper.

Smokey and earthy with tobacco notes. Smooth throughout the drink, with a very subtle citrus flavor.

Some type of stone fruit on the nose (apricot?) with smoke. Salty palate, smoke tastes like a campfire put out with lake water Has an astringency that I’m not super jiving with.

Smoky and briny. As expected from any good Islay. Has the intensity of an Ardbeg but it is lacking in complexity. Fantastic dram though.