Ardbeg An Oa

Very different to the 10 year old, but well worth a taste!

So... this seems to be the least favorite from Ardbeg core range, at least amongst us hardcore whisky fans. I beg to disagree! While I would have some difficult to rank them (10, An Oa, Uige and Corry) on any particular order as I love them all, I would say this one is at least as good as it companions. This is so complex that some could call it a chameleon whisky... First time I opened the bottle all I got was smoky banana pudding and a creamy sweetness background. Some weeks later I got some lemon citrus with peat/smoke background and I could swear it was the TEN I was smelling... Today I’m sipping it again and as I’m trying to focus very hard on my senses, I can get a very big cloves and cigar ash aroma... May seem weird but it’s great! Ahhhh, we whisky geeks may sound crazy sometimes... ;) On the mouth this one is very creamy, with a great mouthfeel and has that familiar heavy smoky/peaty/ashy Ardbeg taste that we all love but this time some extra sweetness tag along, probably from the PX Casks in the mix. The aftertaste is ashy and a little bit more bitter than I like, but nothing that spoils the ride. Overall another stellar dram from Ardbeg. Highly recommended!

The smooth Ardbeg. Peated smokey Whisky with a subtle Choc Mint Palate? Yes please.

The weaker of the Arbeg family in my opinion. Deliciously smooth and peaty, but not as complex as the other Ardbegs. Don’t get me wrong, a great dram, but I won’t be rushing back to buy another bottle. Nothing here to separate it from other whiskeys in the price range.