A very pleasant surprise. I thought that because it was a few bucks cheaper than the 10 that it was going to be pretty basic. But it’s actually surprisingly complex. It may not be as complex as other Islay whiskies or even other Ardbegs, but for the price it is extremely good. Compared to the 10, the flavors are more pinpoint and dense. You still get a lot of smoke, brine, and sea salt quality, but they are more focused. The 10’s smoke might be more bright and sharp, but the An Oa’s smoke manages to be more manageable while being just as pungent. A very very good “not-your-classic-10/12-year-standard-whisky.” Great for something different. For people who like the path this takes from the standard 10, I recommend trying the Talisker Storm compared to the standard Talisker 10. Both the Ardbeg An Oa and the Talisker Storm are great (cheaper in most markets) alternates to the whiskies upon which they’re based.