Ardbeg : An Oa

Characteristics and tasting advice for Ardbeg An Oa

Tasting

Nose
Rounded, subtly smoky profile revealing creamy caramel, anise, molasses and dates. Added to this are notes of toffee, tobacco leaves with a faint menthol touch, and citrus.

Palate
Smooth texture offering balanced peaty notes, a hint of cigar, brown sugar, and lime. The finish reveals lingering smoky molasses accompanied by a hint of hazelnut wafer.

An Islay single malt with a balanced peaty character

The Ardbeg distillery, an emblem of the Isle of Islay

Officially founded in 1815 by John Macdougall on the Isle of Islay, Ardbeg is an iconic distillery producing a Scotch single malt whisky renowned for its “peaty paradox.” Despite a closure between 1981 and 1997, this Islay distillery regained its splendor under the direction of Glenmorangie, then the Moët Hennessy group since 2015. Ardbeg stands out for its malted barley at 55 ppm, long fermentation, and bottling at 46% without chill filtration, creating a unique balance between peaty power and remarkable smoothness.

An Oa, Ardbeg’s approachable expression

Ardbeg An Oa takes its name from the Mull of Oa cliffs located in the southwest of the Isle of Islay. This no-age-statement single malt whisky results from a particular vatting process carried out in a vessel specially designed by Ardbeg. Maturation takes place in three different types of casks: former Pedro Ximénez casks bringing sweetness, charred oak casks for spicy notes, and ex-bourbon casks for intensity. This approach aims to create a rounder, more approachable Ardbeg while preserving the distillery’s distinctive style, offering an ideal gateway into the complex world of Islay whiskies.