New Whisky Alert: Ardbeg An Oa

It’s Friday, so what do you have lined up tonight?

Because heads up for Whiskey lovers, a new Single Malt hit NZ yesterday, the Ardbeg An Oa.

Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden, says, “Ardbeg An Oa’s rounded and subtly smoky aromas reflect all the contrasts of the Mull of Oa… We hope smoky malt whisky fans everywhere will be drawn to Ardbeg An Oa”.

It will be the first new permanent expression to emerge from Ardbeg for almost a decade. Ardbeg An Oa is non chill-filtered and bottled at ABV 46.6%.

Here’s our full tasting notes of the new dram:

Colour: Harvest gold

Aroma: Rounded and subtly smoky (applewood smoked), with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates. A curious suggestion of juicy fruits, such as peach and banana. With a drop of water, come reminders of Ardbeg’s classic fragrance – lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. A gentle waxiness, like fragrant candle wax, and hints of smoked herbs.

Taste: A smooth, creamy texture leads into a huge syrupy sweetness, flavours of milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves. Gentle, sweet spices (nutmeg and cinnamon), some cigar smoke, and a very unusual flavour of grilled artichokes. Long and sweet, with floral overtones, mint toffee and some gentle malty/biscuity notes.

Finish: Lingering, seductive, gentle yet intense, with flavours of aniseed, hickory and distant subtle smoke.