Ardbeg An Oa

Overall rating
84.28/100
votes
1619
Whiskybase ID
WB99885
Category
Single Malt
Distillery
Bottler
Distillery Bottling
Bottled
2017
Casktype
Charred New Oak, PX Sherry & 1st Fill Bourbon
Strength
46.6 % Vol.
Size
700 ml 700 ml 700 ml 700 ml 700 ml 700 ml 700 ml 750 ml 750 ml 1000 ml 1000 ml 1000 ml
Barcode
5010494938326
Added on
21 aug 2017 5:08 pm by holborndrinker
UncoloredNon-chillfiltered
Ardbeg An Oa
Photo by Whiskybase Shop
Ardbeg An Oa
Photo by Nidan
Ardbeg An Oa
Photo by Ostfriese
Ardbeg An Oa
Photo by Nidan
Ardbeg An Oa
Photo by Nidan
Ardbeg An Oa
Photo by Nidan

Average value

€ 53.96

Found 61 online shops. Lowest price:

£ 41.90
United Kingdom Master of Malt £ 43.90
United Kingdom Hard To Find Whisky £ 46.45
Netherlands DrankDozijn.nl € 52.95
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Whisky reviews for Ardbeg An Oa

129 users have left 142 reviews for this whisky. Average rating is 84.28 points.

  1. Kantenmechaniker scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    It's a bit the tamed version of the Ten, I did not notice so much of the sherry influence, but a good complement of the standard range, which I would pour in now and then, if I did not have hundreds of samples in front of me ;-)
    • Nose
      Beautiful phenolic smoke, somehow I have the feeling of sitting in a pine forest, spicy, but also fresh, grated lemon peel, greasy, under it slightly leathery, the Ardbegsüße is also there, but not as superficial as the Ten, the existing fruit note is more in Direction yellow fruits, right sherry associations I have now in the nose no, after the first sip even fresher, more citrus, lighter
    • Taste
      creamy, directly a lot of smoke, here now relatively sweet, greasy, some cinnamon, pepper, syrupy, honey, yellow fruit, vanilla, slightly chalky, the mouthfeel itself is quite dry, if you smack something is the bacon also something milk chocolate to guess , quite creamy, delicious but also quite simple
    • Finish
      dry, the ashy and spicy smoke dominates here, fruit on the palate, otherwise the mouth is still full of smoke with a light citrus note

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  3. aquataste scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Sweet with light dryness, peat smoke with wine notes, forest fruits, a little iodine, vanilla, lemon peel, fresh herbs, fresh oak, raisins, dark chocolate, a handful of dried spices
    • Taste
      Sweet with light dryness and spices, a pinch of salt, peat smoke with a pinch of pepper, a little iodine, dried forest fruits, a little citrus, vanilla, fresh herbs, raisins, dark chocolate
    • Finish
      Long, peat smoke with iodine with a pinch of pepper, dried forest fruits, spices, some vanilla, fresh herbs, ash at the end

  4. stalker1971 scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      81 81
    • Finish
      81 81

  5. Astrid scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    By no means young and wild, as I had expected from this no-age statement. The average age of the barrels could even be more than ten years, there is already a lot of round and mature ones. Not quite as fruity as the Uigeadail (and not nearly as full-bodied), but from Ardbeg's standard range it is probably the most recommended for beginners. For the full review go here: https://halbendrinks.de/2022/09/18/evolution-of-ardbeg/
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  6. YD84 scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  7. Captain Teague scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    An easy sipping Ardbeg...quite okay

  8. Mcdede scored this whisky 5 points Member Junior

    I'm new to scotch and the peat was too much for me

  9. WhiskeryTurnip scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    Good, but doubtful I will actually keep it permanently in the cabinet. I think like many before me, I picked up this bottle hoping this bottle was something that it is not; a cheaper version of the big bold flavors of Ardbeg Uigeadail— or, that at least maybe it lived in the same neighborhood as Uigeadail.
    • Nose
      83 83
      A sweet holly bush that someone has spritzed with sherry. Overall it has a strikingly sweet, fruity-floral nose like cherries strewing in rum which gradually gives way to the smoke and sea spray of an ocean-side bon fire. There is a definite wax or rubber note that comes out more as it rests.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Red. If any scotch embodied a color, for me this is the distilled flavor of a dark red. It’s red like red wax being stamped to seal a royal letter, red like red meat or red wine sauce. There are some interesting sea notes, nothing like the sharper iodine of other core Ardbegs, more along the lines of damp sand and vegetation after a storm. If anything it has the sweet-salty notes of miso paste. My wife picked up more hazelnut and amaretto, opining that this was too sweet and not enough peat to be a real Ardbeg.
    • Finish
      82 82
      Medium length finish primarily in the residual sweetness that hangs on the side of the tongue and the alcohol tingle down the throat. Overtime each wave of scotch helps to build the finish towards a sweet and spice akin to the tart of sour cherry.

  10. Ashita scored this whisky 82 points Expert Junior

    an oa is so average I would buy it for 10 years to sip
    • Nose
      81 81
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      82 82

  11. aboutWhisky scored this whisky 83 points Expert Junior

    The An Oa is an interesting malt that manages to combine the usually very dominant Ardbeg smoke with fruity and sweet aromas. That is why it already appears very balanced on the nose and remains so until the end. There, in addition to the smoke and sweetness, slightly bitter notes of the oak are very harmoniously integrated into the overall impression.

    https://www.aboutwhisky.de/tastingnotes/ardbeg-an-oa/
    • Nose
      One immediately finds the characteristic smoke with an association of campfire, smokehouse and some tar. However, this dominant smoke also lets through a distinct sweetness almost immediately. This sweetness is reminiscent of ripe fruit that cannot really be distinguished from one another and therefore comes across as a kind of fruit salad. This fruity sweetness also reminds me a bit of pomegranate syrup. Over time, the smoke will certainly change something in the direction of burnt out campfire and ashes. If you take your time, some caramel and crème brulée will come through. After the first taste you can also feel a little oak.
    • Taste
      The start on the tongue is soft and creamy. At first the smoke is still a bit on top of everything else, which is why I miss the sweetness a bit at the beginning. When the nose and mouth have gotten used to the smoke, it is also much sweeter on the tongue and you can find the fruit salad again.
    • Finish
      The oak comes through more and brings some spice and dark chocolate without displacing the sweetness. The finish is long and the interplay between sweetness and oak lingers on for quite a while.

  12. zzqfyl scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  13. Obynapewno scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Fresh, smoke but much lighter than Ardbeg 10, notes of lemon, some fat
    • Taste
      Dry, salt, smoke, wood, creamy, slightly citrus, pepper
    • Finish
      Long, lasting, warming, smoky

  14. robbert88 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      smoke, sweet, lemon sorbet ice cream, vanilla, smoked bacon, orange zest, salty,
    • Taste
      peat, medicinal, black pepper, salty, slightly sweet sherry influences, dry, creamy, glazed bacon, cinnamon, fresh citrus
    • Finish
      cinnamon, smoke, long, mineral, black pepper, ash. Burnt piece of wood

  15. Whiskywiseguy scored this whisky 87 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      Orange, pepper and spice
    • Taste
      Lemon and vanilla
    • Finish
      Sweet

  16. hafssol scored this whisky 80 points Expert Junior

    Reading around, it looks like this one is quite neglected among the Ardbeg core range. It can be understandable, given a less clear profile than other expressions and a somehow weaker temper.

    Despite this, it’s not bad at all! The sherry casks influence smoothens the medicinal dry smokiness, resulting in something quite balanced, ranging from licorice to dried fruits and a touch of vanilla, yet not sweet at all.

    Probably just lacking a bit of distinctive character, compared to the generally bolder Ardbeg expressions, but in general it’s a pleasantly smoky and very enjoyable dram.

  17. Slàinte Mhath scored this whisky 84 points Super Administrator

    Quick hit review.

    Let's call it the 'Tiny Beastie', as this bottling became more or less obsolete with Ardbeg's release of Wee Beastie. Vegetal peat smoke, brine and vanilla characterize both nose and palate, the old theme of sweetness and peat that can't go wrong. Smoked bacon, orange zest and mild pepper fade in the medium finish. A simple and yet enjoyable dram, but if in doubt, I would always go for Wee Beastie.

    RATING: 3.5/5.0 stars ≙ 84 pts → ABOVE AVERAGE

  18. Spoerkel scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  19. PRV scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    21/21/20/21

  20. Palindrome scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    Pulled out a sample I'd kept from the bottle. I only bought one bottle. Yes, memory serves. This was a very weak Ardbeg Day offering. Not sure what the distillery was thinking.

    I was a big fan of Scorch this year, although it doesn't hold a candle to Alligator (yes, I still have a few samples left of that). Then again, I've not tasted the Committee offering of Scorch. I'm not a fan of the switch from cask strength day offerings to committees. Yet another marketing choice made by corporate accountants in Paris and not on Islay (zut alors!).

    Nose: Saccharine, sharp mold note, burlap, artificial caramel, Pine Sol, menthol cigarette breath (which reminds me of an old girlfriend who ended up cheating on me).

    Mouth: some Ardbeg peat that doesn't taste up to the usual standards (not made in-house), swamp water, chickweed petals, cigar ash, stale pumpernickel bread, saccharine, lemon grist, Irish tea.

    Finish: weak yet medium in length (dialed down but hanging on for dear life) with a bit of peat and that unfortunate saccharine note.

    This offering reminds me of a teamful of Scots who were forced to work with one arm tied behind their backs. "Salut au globalisme!"
    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      82 82

  21. Tom na Gruagaich scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Yeah fine Good young smoker, a little too dry for me.
    • Nose
      First sweet peaty on the nose, but then very dry, spices, only over time the citrus notes to be expected.
    • Taste
      Very dry ashy smoke in the mouth, little fruit, subtle.
    • Finish
      The finish starts on black pepper, then smoke. Just a little citrus and towards the end mint and astringent oak, smoke.

  22. MarcinCh scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Peat. Lots of fresh fruit, especially citrus. Equally a lot of herbal notes, pine needles. Maybe traces of mint in the background. A bit of sweetness and caramel in the distance.
    • Taste
      Moderate peat. Pretty salty. Some herbs and needles. Traces of fresh fruit, citrus. Some spices.
    • Finish
      Peat, a lot of salt, some spices. A trail of fresh fruit in the background. More like citrus. A little bit of sweetness mixed with salt. Long finish.

  23. Don Cassi scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Maritime on the nose, earthy-smoky and fruity-sweet with smoked ham, grass, seaweed, spray and gooseberries. After standing for a while, the sweet aromas emerge more strongly and are supported by vanilla.

    Smoky and ashy in the mouth and extremely sweet and for 46% unexpectedly mild.

    A bit more spicy in the finish, but mostly on the light side with a touch of acidity. The smoke lingers relatively long, the oak tends to stay in the background.
    Length: 7/10

    Nice, aromatic Ardbeg. A great whisky in itself, but I would only buy it to complete the Ardbeg collection and prefer its brothers to drink.

    Grade: 2+

  24. MrDvorak scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    The aroma, which is not typical for Ardbeg, contains dark chocolate, lemon zest and tobacco. The taste is slightly peaty with hints of dried bananas and spices. The finish is medium, peppery-chocolate, aniseed.

    Quite an unexpected profile, which you cannot blindly give to Ardbeg, mineral-chocolate, slightly fruity, not bad.

    RATING: 85pts - | 83 - 86 (B) → Good | - Not a “must”, but a nice-to-have.

  25. MLE scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  26. Totoro scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    A nice surprise. In contrast to other NAS bottlings, I actually have an idea why I would buy this one instead of the ten-year-old. It's less uncompromising, lighter, sweeter, and fruitier.

  27. Gareth74 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Sweet and salty

    I’m not one for my medicine tasting like iodine, I’m with Mary Poppins on this one, that spoonful of sugar is a godsend to helping it slip down, as with medicine, so to with whisky.

    There’s something intrinsically correct about Islay (and other smoky) whisky when it shares a bed with something sugary and sweet. The happy bedfellows of salty/brine and sugar just work - caramel is improved with salt, salted, buttered popcorn is Improved vastly with a tiny dusting of sugar, sweet liquorice is an infinitely better nibble with some salt in the recipe. It’s just how things should be. Even something as basic as a chocolate cookie needs that pinch of salt in the recipe.

    So, An Oa. You sweet little thing, off we go...In the glass it’s got that sweet and salt thing going on from the get go. In equal measure it’s peat, salt, bourbon and sherry and the more you smell, the more of them you get. This is one of those noses you just want to keep heaving in. One moment it’s cool and costal and peaty, the next the PX seems more apparent and more defined, then another snort and you uncover wood and bourbon notes. There’s some sort of mustard thing and ginger happening and white pepper too. The sweetness never escapes its savoury, coastal character and the peat which underpins the lot is just the wall it all hangs on. Lovely stuff.

    Does it taste any good? Typical Ardbeg, consistency is just one of the things they do so well, delicate salty coastal peat, warm bourbon and PX casks arrive, a little ginger and pepper. It’s very nice, maybe there’s an argument that it’s a bit thin on the palate, the 46.5%abv feels slightly underwhelming?

    back on the nose after a few sips and there’s more rockpools, seaweed and crushed shells. Further sips and the initial sweetness is more muted and the unmissable Ardbegness is more defined.

    For the money it’s a hard act to fault. It’s sings, it dances and it goes down a treat.

  28. Tuco1972 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      83 83

  29. Lu Cifer scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  30. Saftkenner scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    I very much welcome the idea of expanding the Ardbeg standard range. For Ardbeg newbies, this is a nice addition to the 10 year old.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Fresh and very sweet smoky nose. Like an old, rotten shed on the beach in which the cold Dutch Ovens are kept. In addition passion fruit, pineapple, vanilla, iodine and some oak spice.
    • Taste
      82 82
      Powerful start, oily - sweet and dry at the same time.
      Smoke, pineapple, vanilla, tar, gauze, cardboard, some orange.
    • Finish
      83 83
      Medium finish. Vanilla, honey, smoke and damp cardboard remain.

  31. TechnOBY scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  32. Whisky Hamster scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    Meh, just unnecessary for most discerning maltsters who love to buy the "untouchable trio" of TEN, Oogi, and Corry. To their only credit they did not dare to bottle it below 46% abv. The An Oa is of course still competently put together but the weakest of the bunch (regarding the 5 more as an oddition than a serious addition here). For me it's roughly in the same quality range as the recent special releases, but this says more about the latter than the An Oa... ;-)

  33. Cubey666 scored this whisky 78 points Connoisseur

    not bad at all, but in no way to compare with the classic 10, or the Uig / Corry.

    it just seems to miss something, but i cannot put my finger on it.

    #950
    • Nose
      76 76
    • Taste
      79 79
    • Finish
      78 78

  34. Marcel74 scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    New charred oak, ex bourbon and px sherry casks it is well balanced, but it feels a bit young on the tongue
    • Nose
      Sweet, gum, licorice, vanilla, sherry, lemon, campfire
    • Taste
      Lemon, oak, fruit, pear, chocolate, toffee
    • Finish
      Medium / short sweet finish

  35. SAND scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    (Tasted semi-blind; I knew it was Ardbeg, not which one)
    NOSE: Sweet bonfire ashes. Initially it smells like a relativelely dry, not so coastal peat, which has had a healthy dose of sherry maturation. Gradually a maritime influence comes along, with iodine, tar, old tarry boat ropes, some herbal greens, winter green, and that sweet oily smell which you get from combining Islay peated spirit with sherry casks. Quite rich and lovely but not terribly complex. With time becomes more and more green and herbal. (88-89p).
    TASTE: The arrival is rather fruity and slightly sweet. On the mid palate there are greengages, green bananas and green herbs, with eucaluptys and mint and also some bitter green herbs as well as some bitter wood tannins. (86p).
    EXIT: Sweet, slightly oily bonfire ashes. Mild black pepper. Green herbs. Quite nice. (86p).
    OVERALL: A very green and herbal, but a bit unbalanced. A not so very ardbeggy Ardbeg. Lovely nose, though. TOTAL SCORE 87 (86) points.

  36. alcozl scored this whisky 84 points Member Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      83 83

  37. bredstrup scored this whisky 82 points Member Senior

    I like ugi/10-year-old more
    • Nose
      80 80
      Smoke, Tobacco, more fresh appearance than any other ardbeg I’ve tried. A hint of solvent and grassy/hay-ish notes.
    • Taste
      81 81
      Sweet and somewhat woody (wet burnt wood). Alcohol burn, not that well-integrated. Tannins, vanilla notes. Fresh tobacco. Some tropical fruits, also soap(!?!)
    • Finish
      85 85
      Pretty long finish. Alcohol, smoke/peat and bitter notes from the new casks

  38. McMoulis scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

  39. Mapl scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      88 88
    • Finish
      87 87

  40. ZhengMoMo scored this whisky 83 points Member Junior

    The smell of this wine is slightly muddy, but Abbe’s personality is very good, the taste level is relatively clear, but the flavor expression is relatively simple, no matter how much flavor barrels participate, it is difficult to make up for the congenital deficiency of too short aging.
    • Nose
      84 84
      Red wine vinegar, smoked and disinfected water, a bit harsh. Turbid sea water, not-so-fresh seaweed, dirty beach, white stubble wood, white pepper stimulation.
    • Taste
      83 83
      Smoky flavor, orange juice, shellfish, light salty flavor, walnut, pepper, irritation is obvious.
    • Finish
      82 82
      Medium length, smoked, sea salt, orange.

  41. TechnOBY scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  42. nallacam scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    He has a tough time between the 3 established ones, TEN, Uigeadail and Corryvreckan.
    Seems a bit out of place and at least can't convince me.
    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      80 80

  43. gaboruso scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      85 85

  44. Koning scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Nice Ardbeg, but certainly no improvement over the Ten, Corryvreckan or Uigeadail for me.
    • Nose
      88 88
      Typical heavy but fresh Ardbeggian peat. Lemon, aniseed, chalky, sea spray, ropes and tar. Quite familiar, but I also get dates and banana.
    • Taste
      88 88
      Dry peat with sour citrus notes. Fresh herbs (peppermint,cumin), artificial sweetness, a bit grassy and waxy.
    • Finish
      84 84
      More restrained peat, quite mineral and a bizarre fizzy feeling of 7-up. Some milk chocolate and fades out dry.

  45. Valérie scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  46. matfrl scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  47. claymore84 scored this whisky 80 points Expert Senior

    Tasted on 12/12/2019
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      79 79
    • Finish
      80 80

  48. JimJaws scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    Sweet and smoky, but goes very well together. Surprised me positively. A good introduction to the world of Islay whiskys

  49. Emperor69 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    Comparative tasting with Ardbeg Ten showed that this whisky seemed to me more interesting, brighter than the latter in terms of aromatics, but the taste is unexpectedly more prickly. So, for myself, I prefer the classics. But first things first.
    Color: noticeably darker than a dozen. Here aging in barrels from under PX and new charred barrels affected. The color can be described as a light light golden.
    Body: dense, oily, and we did not expect anything else from Ardbeg.
    Nose: Distinctly smoky and sweet. Familiar in a dozen tones of dry branches, fire, peat, cigarette ash, Vishnevsky's ointment, iodine, rubber, tarpaulin boots, scorched pork, here they are perfectly balanced by the aromas of burnt caramel, fudge or toffee, cherries, milk chocolate, raisins, cinnamon, hazelnuts and pies with forest berries. Aromas of wax, anise, chalk (limestone), lemon peel, black ground pepper also pass through the trail. Well, sourish "bread" malt motifs indicate the relative youth of alcohols.
    Taste: slightly salty at the beginning (sea salt, iodine), then briefly turns into a creamy-nutty sweetness (toffee, milk chocolate, hazelnuts), which then abruptly gives way to a long bitter pepper wave with motifs of tea leaves, cigar tobacco, gary, nutmeg , ginger and citrus zest.
    Finish: long, warming, anise, spices.

  50. TechnOBY scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      82 82

  51. gallfux did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Not a bad whisky. However, I grab there then rather to Uigeadail for a few euros more. He has more power and expressiveness.

  52. AdamsB scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Whisky aged in three different types of barrels:
    - after Pedro Ximenez responsible for sweetness;
    - Virgin oak, strongly fired barrels of fresh oak that provide spices;
    - bourbon, which is a classic Ardbega whisky finish.
    • Nose
      87 87
      Smoke, apple trees, toffee and anise. In the next phase, there are notes of tropical fruits - peaches and bananas.
    • Taste
      89 89
      Delicate, intensely sweet, milk chocolate, caramel, anise, orange and smoky tea leaves. Subtle, sweet spices, cinnamon and cigar smoke combine with the taste of grilled artichokes and mint toffee, honey
    • Finish
      85 85
      Intense and subtle dominated by the smoky, peaty flavor of anise, oak,

  53. Sleinn nam Ffoh scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  54. PuddingmitHaut did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    Gentle earthy smoke, surprisingly sweet, very tasty nose, the PX barrel takes a while to show it away in the nose.

    The taste again sweet, sugar cane, smoke and easily the alcohol hanging on the tongue.

    Long sweet and malty finish with only subtle smoke.

  55. wbarchive_875995 did not rate this whisky Expert Junior

    Smoky dark chocolate with lemon peel, hay, tobacco and caramel.

    RATING: 85pts - [n21,t22,f21,b21] → |83-85: Decent|

  56. maltaholic scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    Fresh smoke, bacon cubes, but also a slight sweetness.

    Rather spicy in the mouth.
    Juniper berries, ashes, sauerkraut.
    Much more will not come then.

    Gorgeous nose.
    In the taste he then decreases.

  57. ConvalRen scored this whisky 73 points Connoisseur

    I found this to be mediocre and not close to the main other 2. Nonetheless, not bad too, we have the core flavours of peat, salt, brine, pepper and ash
    • Nose
      71 71
      Fresh sweet malt, the recently washed rice water.
    • Taste
      72 72
      Cornflakes mixed with muesli sat on an oak table with a fireplace burning in the background. Medicinal and tarry yet subtle, not overpowering. A good malty dram for anytime of the day, be it for breakfast or as a night cap.
    • Finish
      75 75
      A good balance of malt and smoke, but sadly no long ending nor any complexity.

  58. MaltyMillionaire scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Nose is dry with peat, honey, lime, and brine. Palate is sweet upon delivery, with honey, spice, brine, ash, and smoke. Finish is long, dry, spicy and sweet.

  59. Alex Fridays scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Colour: light gold.
    Nose: peated smoke, creosote, light fruits rottenness, vanilla, sweet fruits, salt, spices, grass and white plums.
    Mouth: peated smoke, creosote, dust, fruits, salt, vanilla and oak.
    Finish: long and peaty with creosote, salt, vanilla notes.
    Ardbeg An Oa isn’t a peated monster, it’s a good balanced, smooth and easy drinkable whisky. I think, it would be good to start acquaintance with Ardbeg for beginners.

  60. Expraesi scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      86 86
      Wonderful balance between smoke and Kramell sweetness. Some sherry and anise.
    • Taste
      86 86
      Soft, then the smoke spreads pleasantly in the mouth. Spicy, some chocolate and cinnamon. Complex.
    • Finish
      88 88
      First sweet, then smoky and spicy again. Some anise again.
      Long. Great addition to the existing Ardbeg range.

  61. markjedi1 scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Brackish Water
    The Ardbeg An Oa is the newest release in the core range of Ardbeg, launched in September 2017. It is named after the Mull of Oa, where you can find the American Monument (if you’ve been to Islay, you know what I mean, if not: Google is your friend). The difference with the classic Ten is significant and I do not just mean the lack of age. This one matured on a combination of 7 cask types, including virgin oak, PX sherry and 1st fill bourbon casks. Oh, the ABV is odd: 46.6%. I tried it for the first time in the Old Kiln Café at the Ardbeg distillery, but saw that no actual notes were made then. Time to rectify.
    The nose is surprisingly fresh and playful for an Ardbeg, with lots of vanilla and lime, ginger and cinnamon. Fanta Lemon with some mint, fresh seaweeds and some polished leather. Some smoked mussels and diesel oil. And smoke, obviously. I think it’s quite light (for an Ardbeg, mind you), but just fine all the same.
    The spices come first, on the palate (ginger, pepper, cardamom) – that must be the virgin oak. It is followed by black tea, sweet lemons and pink grapefruit with a hint of brown sugar. Peat, of course, but also lots of brackish water.
    In the finish – quite long – everything has to get out of the way for lemons and peppers.
    Spicier, but less round than the Ten, but still Ardbeg all the way. Probably young, but it doesn’t bother. Just under 60 EUR.

  62. thomasflsts scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      85 85

  63. Stanzeflasche scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    The nose offers an interesting mix between the vanilla influence of bourbon and a very maritime and thick peat. On the one hand seaweed, tide, spray, ash, tar, on the other a gentle sweetness, icing sugar. But little by little the peat rises, deeper, crushes the vanilla, imposes itself. After a while there is only her. In the mouth, it is first sweet, oily, then alcohol is felt, and peat. It's a bit young, but not too much, caramelized, honeyed, vanilla, syrupy. Finally the finish is typically Ardbeg, very vegetal, the peat rises, with damp wood. It's not worth the Ten but it's not bad at all.

    https://ilikesky2020.blogspot.com/2020/06/ardbeg-oa.html
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      87 87

  64. psiiik scored this whisky 82 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      82 82

  65. Albaron scored this whisky 82 points Specialist

    A beautiful nose that promises a lot, in the mouth he can not keep it. A strong bitterness that displaces everything else besides the smoke gives the whisky a one-dimensionality and pulls it down. No, you do not need that. Other distilleries can do that much better. See Kilchoman Sanaig.
    • Nose
      instant phenolic smoke, some sherry notes, dried fruit, some licorice, citrus notes, vanilla and toffee
    • Taste
      Here, too, the phenolic smoke, the sherry / raisin notes here, then comes a strong bitterness, the citrus notes are virtually gone
    • Finish
      The bitterness stays for a long time, while the smoke fades more and more, and in between, wood tannins

  66. seacroft scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    An easy access, crowd pleasing Ardbeg with plenty of dry peat smoke but also a nice sweetness and balance from the casks. Not as obscured as some of the earlier releases. A nice contribution to the core range.

  67. valery77 scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Peat, gouache, green apple, lemon, sea freshness, chalk, ash. 21
    • Taste
      From light to medium, moderately sweet. Ash, peat, ash, sweet citrus and other fresh fruits, black pepper. 21
    • Finish
      Long. Smoky-peat theme, iodine, burning crust of black bread. 21
      Simple but quite pleasant peat whisky without any frills. Balance - 20.
      Total 83

  68. Punktar scored this whisky 91 points Connoisseur

    I like the very old Ardbegs and this one, in contrast, has developed in a very different direction. But he is good! A really fresh Ardbeg, with which one certainly wins new fans who do not like the smoke so much in the foreground. A class whisky!
    • Nose
      95 95
      In the nose immediately the typical lemony Ardbeg freshness. The smoke is much more involved and withdrawn than usual from Ardbeg. I have the feeling that the smoke here goes a bit further in the direction of wood smoke than usual, not in the direction of peat. Somewhat oily and leather?
    • Taste
      90 90
      Great! Creamy and fresh. The citrus freshness covers the tongue and is wonderfully accompanied by the smoke. Also here more towards wood smoke. Wonderful - he has nothing heavy and muted.
    • Finish
      88 88
      Pleasant, medium length with a focus on citrus freshness.

  69. Mr. D. scored this whisky 82 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      82 82

  70. SweetPeat scored this whisky 82 points Member Senior

    Nice whisky, more fruity than the Ten and also smokier in the taste. Slight bitterness. But I miss the typical creamy Ardbeg sweet something.
    • Nose
      83 83
      strong smoke (phenolic), ash, nutty, sweet, ripe red fruits (PX sherry), lots of vanilla and caramel, alcohol perfectly integrated
    • Taste
      82 82
      Very strong smoke, sweet sherry, vanilla, caramel, dark chocolate, anise, some oak, intense
    • Finish
      82 82
      Very long (10/10) and fruity with slightly bitter ash

  71. LDB scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    Personally, he seems to me too trivial, even if he has been well touched.
    • Nose
      82 82
      Wet newsprint, pine needle oil, orange liqueur - hardly any smoke.
    • Taste
      82 82
      Very typical Ardbegsüße first, then quickly overturning and sour-dry-bitter.
    • Finish
      81 81
      Relatively short and irrelevant. Miles away from the Ten.

  72. Koalafant scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    SID #603

    Aquavitae 15.10.2017 => 84/100

  73. Dyno scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    ok the price at least is better than the kelpie but the liquid is still not up there for me with the other Ardbegs i've tried/had... again not bad, but not excellent either.
    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  74. Stef89 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Junior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      84 84

  75. Astrid scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      84 84

  76. Astrid scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Smoke fluffy like a cotton ball! An Ardbeg who stands for himself without being as heavy as the other standard bottlings from this house - I would even describe the An Oa as comparatively thin. The barrels used draw attention to themselves, especially the fresh burned out.
    • Nose
      a really insane round and velvety smokiness after wood ash with slightly salty-maritime and peaty elements, a bit oily, charred wood, behind sweet PX sherry and juicy raisins, a nice caramel-vanilla-combination, coconut cream, in comparison to other Ardbegeditionen very fruity: Banana, crisp, slightly sour apples, fresh peaches and pieces of strawberry unfold, blueberry muffin with pieces of chocolate, lime with icing sugar, agave syrup and honey mashed with ground almonds, sweet and sour barbeque sauce, bread, later cocoa solids and tobacco, black pepper and clove
    • Taste
      powerful but not full-bodied, oily soft texture, sweet woody smoke, charred wood, sparkling sharpness, vanilla, PX sherry with orange notes, chocolate, earth, salt, asphalt, spicy ginger and cardamom, hints of clove and cinnamon, bread, herbal candy
    • Finish
      astringent bitter bitterness gently proves the palate, lots of smoke and charred, cocoa, burned matches, earthy, bread spices, oak and a pinch of cinnamon, herbal brandy, yarrow, black peppercorns, warming, however, not befitting long lasting

  77. Gris scored this whisky 81 points Expert Senior

    It is an Ardbeg, for sure, but I find it less characteristic than all the others that I’ve tasted so far. When I drink an Ardbeg, I want a “real” Ardbeg that brings me immediatly right to the sea just near a brazier… Here, I’m less traveling than with a Corryvreckan that I prefer, for sure. Not bad, far from it (and it’s still a good whisky for that price – 45€), but a little too “light” for my taste.

    http://www.justanotherdram.com/en/tasting-notes/ardbeg-an-oa.html
    • Nose
      Freshness and a certain sweetness. Usually, when you drink an Ardbeg, people who enter the room feel it directly, but here the smoke is less “invasive”. Honeyed and lemony.
    • Taste
      As for the nose, a unusual sweetness. Some chocolate and spices, with some pepper. And… Smoke, of course.
    • Finish
      A little bit too short, usually you keep an Ardbeg in mouth for a longer time. Still smoke and pepper.

  78. Falnor scored this whisky 78 points Connoisseur

    If everyone is buying Ardbeg and no one is questioning, why just not put average young stuff on the market with some marketing stunt and a name?
    • Nose
      Well there's smoke, some bacon and citrus. The nose is Ardbeg allright. But it is not up to the standards of the 10 or other core ranges.
      Greener and younger with lots of young wood and fruity jam or raisins. Keep it longer in your glass and you get more pencil shavings and marshmellows.
    • Taste
      Cenrtainly on the palate the virgin oak battles with the PX. Not at all a good match in this one. The peat masks the fact that it's just not a good whisky.
    • Finish
      Ashy not much smoke left. Vanilla sherbert,  Strawberry candy and short ending

  79. Jackson05 scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    Nose: more herbal, none of the citrus notes in the 10.  

    Palate: thin, herbal, some sweetness, but not really satisfying. 

    Finish: dry finish, a little bitter. Uninspiring.  

    Summary: didn’t take many notes on this one, Because it didn’t really deserve it. This is apparently Brendan McCarron’s personal project to create another (different) core Ardbeg. In short I would simply say it’s a weaker Uigeadail. 

    82/100
    • Nose
      1 1
    • Taste
      1 1
    • Finish
      1 1

  80. Gris scored this whisky 81 points Expert Senior

    It is Ardbeg but I find it much less characteristic than all that I could taste. When I take an Ardbeg, I want a "real" Ardbeg and have the feeling of being in front of a fire by the sea ... I know it was their desire to make a more "light" but it is much less traveling than a Corryvreckan that I prefer him for sure. Not bad, far from it (and it's still a good whisky for 45 €), but a little too "light" for my taste.
    • Nose
      A certain freshness and a certain sweetness. Generally when you use an Ardbeg, the person who enters the room feels it directly, here it is much less "invasive" on the side of the smoke. A honeyed and lemony side.
    • Taste
      Like the nose, we find an unusual sweetness for an Ardbeg. A little chocolate and spices on a slightly peppery side. Smoke, yes, yes, eh.
    • Finish
      A final a little short, there is also usually keep an Ardbeg in the mouth much longer. We stay on smoke and pepper.

  81. ricallende did not rate this whisky Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Smoke, raspberries, mesquite BBQ, oak, iodine, seaweed, lemon-lime citrus, pine tree/needles.
    • Taste
      Watery mouthful, slight bitterness. Smoke, raspberries, mesquite BBQ, oak. Vanilla, aniseed/licorice.
    • Finish
      Medium-long. Slightly drying. Smoke, aniseed/licorice linger. Raspberries, mesquite BBQ, oak, vanilla slowly fade and make way for Turkish coffee grounds, a smoky ash, milk chocolate, and general woody notes

  82. Bernard scored this whisky 84 points Member Junior

    Ardbeg correct, but far from the Ardbeg 10 years.
    • Nose
      Fairly light, a little medicinal, a little synthol, earth, traces of wood. The whole is diluted, wet dog.
    • Taste
      Quite creamy, but the aroma content is rather slim. We find the medicinal side, peat, iodine, a hint of sugar, and acidulous candy. The whole is a bit young and vegetal.
    • Finish
      Ashen, iodized, on plants. Proper dress.

  83. P.A.O.K.you_are scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  84. Gris scored this whisky 81 points Expert Senior

    Rating: 81/100
    It is Ardbeg but I find it much less characteristic than all that I could taste. When I take an Ardbeg, I want a "real" Ardbeg and have the feeling of finding myself in front of a fire by the sea ... This one is much less traveling than a Corryvreckan that I prefer him for sure. Not bad, far from it (and it's still a good whisky for 45 €), but a little too "light" for my taste.
    • Nose
      A certain freshness and a certain sweetness. Generally when you use an Ardbeg, the person who enters the room feels it directly, here it is much less "invasive" on the side of the smoke. A honeyed and lemony side.
    • Taste
      Like the nose, we find an unusual sweetness for an Ardbeg. A little chocolate and spices on a slightly peppery side. Smoke, yes, yes, eh.
    • Finish
      A final a little short, there is also usually keep an Ardbeg in the mouth much longer. We stay on smoke and pepper.

  85. Eilean a' Cheo scored this whisky 88 points Expert Senior

    The smoke is ardbegian, the palate is sweet and nicely balanced, the strength is perfect, it doesn't feel immature at all...gives NAS whiskies a reason for existing..!

  86. Tabrulavubeg scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    I agree with Drk Neknul's comments, which I think are very accurate. This is a lighter "Ardbeg Variation" compared to the other bottlings of the Core Range, but has its raison d'être because it is a well-balanced malt that recognizes the Ardbeg DNA. The TEN is and remains the classic and first choice in the standard bottlings, but therefore the An Oa may still be "good". ;)

  87. fradin11 scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      86 86

  88. HammerHead scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Nose: loads of fresh lemon, lemon peel, lemon drop sweets (Napoleon lemon balls), lemon curd, bitter oranges and lime which actually overpower the smoke and peatiness at first glance. Also there's some pencil shavings and a touch of milk chocolate.

    Taste: quite similar to the nose but a little less profound, clear citrus with again the lemon curd and sweets, spicy peatiness and the fresh wood notes.

    The finish is of medium length with smoked wood and has a honied lemony sweet/sour feel to it.

    Less smokey and peaty than expected on beforehand, but I really like the fresh lemony feel of this dram. I might even prefer this over the 10 year old.

    Edit: as the bottle level drops, the citrus notes shift more and more to the background. The ashy notes in the finish get more pronounced. It turns out to be a bit of a one trick pony, which does not improve with time. I'm dropping the score, still a decent enough dram though.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      83 83

  89. zaphod155 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    A well-done Ardbeg, which joins nicely in the range. Pretty harmonious and balanced (almost mainstream). He reminds me with the sweetness a little on the Blasda.
    • Nose
      At the beginning of the (for me) typical smoked bacon, but sweeter than usual. Honey sweetness with orange and sugar melon. In the background light leather tones. The smoke is well integrated and does not push itself into the foreground. With time comes a little more cocoa.
    • Taste
      Fairly mild, creamy onset. First sugar sweet, then smoky, then spicy and then a peppery spiciness. Behind it vanilla and honey. The second sip is accompanied by citrus flavors.
    • Finish
      Pretty long. The sweetness lasts a long time. The sharpness remains the longest.

  90. Thermidor did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Somehow less interesting than Blasda. This is your Select moment, Ardbeg.
    • Nose
      I can't help but feel this is another cup of Ardbeg's typical 2010s vanilla juice. It takes a lot to drown this particular distillate, but this product succeeds, and is smooth in a decidedly bad way. The best way to describe the nose is as if someone tried to make the 10yo more user friendly.
    • Taste
      Creamy, rounded, and with a bit of peat bite. Faint feeling of toothpaste or alginate, a fair dose of cask vanilla, and somewhere underneath, the more familiar plaster and charred stone oven notes. 
    • Finish
      The finish starts with faint tar and salmiak, which feel nice, but then this eucalyptus thing comes in and puts it out of joint. 

  91. rpvdwel scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      83 83

  92. HunterRomario scored this whisky 87 points Expert Senior

    Yeah, I like that.
    • Nose
      Rubble peat, smoke from the smokehouse, ash, white wine. (86 b)
    • Taste
      Pleasant oil on the tongue, sweetened peat, finely peppery, almond. Citrus. Spicy, well-swallowed reverie. (88 b)

  93. GLEN MAUR scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  94. Rosebank88 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      Starts surprisingly sweet, but also typically smoky. Honey ham, ashes, light saltiness, maritime notes of fishnets, wet ropes, shells, dinghy, citrus zests, immature honeydew melon, fumes, dusty aromas, olives in brine and vanilla. Relatively playful and little defined but very multi-faceted.
    • Taste
      Sweet again in the beginning, followed quickly by huge peat flavors. As well as ash, smoldering BBQ aromas, salt, melon with ham, olives in brine, dinghy, pebbles, wet rubber boots and waders.
    • Finish
      Long, remarkably full, salty, tender smoke, green olives, peat and dinghy.

  95. Dionysus scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      84 84

  96. GIORGOS scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      85 85

  97. Hvdree scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      81 81

  98. Achany scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    peat, smoke, some hints of bacon, some salt, some seabreeze. all there. but I do miss the citrus a little bit, the sweetness is not impressive. which made me realise the complexity is not impressive either. I do like it, nice drinkable Ardbeg but I would still prefer the TEN for the same price or even cheaper ... (WSZ17)
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      81 81

  99. whiskyinstitut scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Very nice for the price. Even if the set interior design leaves something to be desired ...
    • Nose
      Very grainy sweet Ardbeg smoke, a creamy sweetness is followed by a fresh and minty grassy notes, slightly salty and mineral, star fruit and green apple
    • Taste
      Sweet and strong onset, then initially a watery texture, the smoke is gradually on and brings some warmth, boar remains discreet, the star fruit is back, after the first sip he is very ashy
    • Finish
      Superficial Ardbeg smoke, then the apple and star fruit notes, only slightly oaky spiciness with only very subtle bitterness

  100. Pollenflug scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Conclusion and pictures on: https://tomtrinkt.de
    • Nose
      Summer fresh, with plenty of light fruit, floral accents and a - for Ardbeg conditions - restrained smoky, the new An Oa rises from my Glencairn. The fresh-sweet smoke has beautiful tar flavors and has a minimal medicinal effect. Vanilla, limes, grapefruit, oranges, green apples, baked apple pies, toasted malt, subtle hints of herbs, maritime aromas (salt) and wooden notes (old cigar box) complete the aromatic variety. No overwhelming complexity monster, but with a crystal clear and harmonious line.
    • Taste
      Buttery and creamy, the Ardbeg clothes the entire oral cavity. The tip of the tongue tingles easily at the beginning. A balanced symbiosis of light fruits, vanilla and smoke floods the palate. Lemons, grapefruit, oranges, peaches, ripe apples, delicate pastry notes, herbs, dried tobacco leaves, mineral notes and a slight oak spiciness stand out. The tarry smoke (now with light ash notes) is always present, but without being too strong and overloading. The alcohol content of 46.6% is perfectly integrated and allows an intense aroma transport.
    • Finish
      Medium long, warm and smoky. The fresh sliced ​​lemons and bright fruits now give way to the ashy tarry smoke and echoes of salty milk chocolate. A minimal dryness develops on the palate.

  101. zaphod155 scored this whisky 84 points Expert Senior

    A well-done Ardbeg, which joins nicely in the range. Pretty harmonious and balanced (almost mainstream). He reminds me with the sweetness a little on the Blasda
    • Nose
      At the beginning of the (for me) typical smoked bacon, but sweeter than usual. Honey sweetness with orange and sugar melon. In the background light leather tones. The smoke is well integrated and does not push itself into the foreground. With time comes a little more cocoa.
    • Taste
      Fairly mild, creamy onset. First sugar sweet, then smoky, then spicy and then a peppery spiciness. Behind it vanilla and honey. The second sip is accompanied by citrus flavors.
    • Finish
      Pretty long. The sweetness lasts a long time. The sharpness remains the longest.

  102. ctu scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    The best part is the nose, the taste is confusion of abundance: PX, bourbon, new oak ... exaggerated.
    • Nose
      Complex. Eucalyptus, menthol and camphor. Bergamot oil. Motor oil. Salt and vanilla. PX sherry. Smoke and ash.
    • Taste
      Not too strong. Grilled citruses, spices, honey, herbals. Vanilla pudding and salt.
    • Finish
      Medium-length, bittersweet with herbals.

  103. Ciro scored this whisky 87 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      88 88
    • Taste
      87 87
    • Finish
      85 85

  104. LiquidThoughts scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    So I miss a little the difference points to the rest of the core range, a touch easier for new people probably. as the Corry, but eigtl., he is still gross ashes for absolute beginners.
    • Nose
      Quite cool smoke, fresh algae from the sea, light honey, lemon notes, lemon ice cream and lime ice cream, vanilla, a little eucalyptus, the smoke stays a long time, some spices behind, then salt again
    • Taste
      Cold ash, tobacco in the ashtray cooled, dry, lemony, wholemeal bread, a little cotton candy, toasted bread and an oak barrel with algae, fine salt, a little ginger and dark chocolate
    • Finish
      Dry, the cold smoke continues, lemon and whole grains continue, medium long

  105. Mr.Edradour scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Well! Once again a lot of hype about nothing special. :-(

  106. domani scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    The An Oa is really successful. The alcohol is very well integrated, it is powerful and expressive. Distillation character and barrel are well interwoven. The only criticism is perhaps the departure. If he was a little longer, that would be nice. But with this whisky again becomes clear which possibilities Ardbeg has and how one uses the existing potential to set the Brennereicharakter again and again in scene - 11.11.2017
    • Nose
      Beautiful, straightforward smoky note accompanied by a fresh citrus aroma, candied oranges, gum, freshly opened snuffbox, fresh herbs
    • Taste
      First he touches, sweet and soft with a hint of lemon abrasion, then pushes through the barrel neatly and the oak is suddenly there, bitter nuts, woody, pepper on the tip of the tongue, the palate is stunned, dry, sweet, noble chocolate, acacia honey, spicy, fresh herbs, to the end again bitter chocolate
    • Finish
      medium

  107. jankes scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  108. mer1973 scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  109. dram-drinker scored this whisky 82 points Photo Moderator

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      81 81

  110. dram-drinker scored this whisky 82 points Photo Moderator

    Definitely more peat than smoke - reminds me on Iona which was almost peated only without smoke. Very convenient but not that special.
    • Nose
      Citric, honey, butter, fine peat and smoke, hints of vanilla
    • Taste
      Oily, smooth, lots of peat but little smoke, citric, vanilla
    • Finish
      Medium long, warm, a tad bitter in the end

  111. AH Whiskyvitrine scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      83 83

  112. Archer scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    bottle code: L67986 03/07/2017
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      85 85

  113. Archer scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    As an addition to the core range thought, you can sort it well as a beginner Ardbeg.
    • Nose
      Cool, phenolic smoke over lemon cake and lime slices. Maritime notes of seaweed, algae and sun-dried fish. Saline, spices come from afar. Over time dried apricots, later also red grapes. Long smoky.
    • Taste
      Lemon smoke with tobacco crumbles bounces on the tongue. Nice dry, ashy. Fine salt note, mild herbs, ginger, fine-sour chocolate. Becomes a bit bitter over time, but does not lose strength.
    • Finish
      Medium long, dry, smoky, with hints of roasted lemon slices.

  114. hs305 scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    [October, 2017]  I call this the "little Kelpie".  Obviously, Kelpie was a test ballot on how a caucasian virgin oak Ardbeg is received by the Ardbeg community.  And as the reactions on the Kelpie were rather mixed they most probably adjusted the An Oa recipe to a more smoother and less woody (aggressive) dram by adding more standard bourbon casks and less virgin oak - what is fine.

    But why do they use virgin caucasian oak at all?  The reason is very simple:  Due to the long-lasting whisky boom there is a severe cask shortage at all Scottish distilleries (bourbon whisky did not grow as much as Scotch did) and even more severe at groups that do not own a bourbon distiillery in their portfolio (like LVHM).  Consequently, to mature the ever growing output scottish distilleries more and more have to use virgin oak casks too and therefore a lot of scotch whisky has become more wood-driven and bourbon-ish in their style (look at Laphroaig or Macallan, for example).  

    Caucasian oak induces a different flavours profile into whisky than the traditional american or european oak.  It is significantly more herbal with eucalyptus and camphor notes (that I personally do not like as this reminds me of cough medicine).  In this respect it is a completely new style of whisky that you either like or not.  But to say it very clear:  Distilleries do this out of despair (as they are short of high quality casks) and not because they want to innovate...  But it is an innovation, nevertheless!  And we will see if this leads to some more interesting flavour profiles over time (once the maturation had a chance to really work over an appropriate period and not just for a few years as with the Kelpie or An Oa), especially when second and third fill caucasian casks are available.

    But to be honest:  This is a typical Ardbeg, for sure and it is better than other standard editions right now (good that they did the test ballot with the Kelpie).  But it is not great and rather average only (or judged by Ardbeg standards:  still below average)...

    PS:  I tried batch L67986 bottled 04/07/2017.
    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      85 85
    • Finish
      84 84

  115. theograph scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    Pleasant Islay malt with unusually soft features for me;
    • Nose
      Lemon and a grassy note, nice fresh smoke, menthol, subtle tar and medley (medically), almond marzipan, altogether salty-sweet;
    • Taste
      Soft, sweet, grassy, ​​slightly smoky or medically (more in the nose), somehow lovely and not very powerful;
    • Finish
      Not very long, soft / sweet and sweet;

  116. MadScientist scored this whisky 89 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      90 90

  117. WhiskyLovingPianist scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    https://whiskylovingpianist.wordpress.com/2017/10/21/mnc-variety-night/

    Made up from all-sorts of casks.

    N: Mainly vegetal custard creams and loads of stewed veg - cabbage, carrots, leeks, parsnips,.. - oh, and lemonade!
    T: Squidgy & foamy with vegetal peat and bin juice.
    F: Quickly fades before a final show of vegetal sweet ash.
    C: It’s pretty decent but nothing stella.Scores a B-

  118. St. Pauli scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    The An Oa works rather fresh, maybe a tad too much. What I mean by this is that it has the good old lemon-style distillate, yet it is masked with a lot of fresh wood. On the palate, it's very rounded, maybe a tad too engineered. Still, I won't call this bad, as it is not unpleasant. It's just too engineered so it doesn't have one unique selling point. It could appeal to the masses though.
    • Nose
      A good old portion of fruity, peaty spirit, that's promising. Lemon juice, lemon zest. antiseptic, oysters, then also ash and (fresh) wood smoke. After a while, smoked bacon turns up. Then, there is something green, like eucalyptus. The sherry influence seems not so present, maybe there is just a hint of dried fruit.
    • Taste
      Full-bodied, easy drinkeable. This means: rounded, not so bitter. There is more room for dried fruit (mainly figs), sweet bbq smoke, honey, ham. Then there is still a little citrus, grass, eucalyptus, vanilla, wood, and soft spice. 
    • Finish
      Medium long, with a good balance between sour, sweet and spicy. It's not that salty however. Think of smoked honey glazed spare ribs, sardines, wood chips, vicks eucalyptus, pepper and a hint of cinnamon.

  119. malthead-1984 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      89 89
    • Taste
      89 89
    • Finish
      83 83

  120. malthead-1984 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    I really like his taste very good, for me he is now one of the top PLVs and I will be allowed to move in a vial. nice drink great nose and the Ardbeg smoke good thing.
    • Nose
      hmmm the classic Ardbeg smoke rises immediately in the nose and dominates everything first. However, what immediately stands out is the well-integrated alcohol and the sweet coconut notes, which are accompanied by exotic fruits and not just citrus flavors. very pleasing but the fresh bourbon barrels are very dominant. in comparison, the fruit note is stronger than other Ardbegs
    • Taste
      time to taste! very easily it runs on the tongue the fruit disappears and abundant vanillerauch take over the command. of the 46.6% are felt a slight tingling, a little woody spice joins. quite soft and balanced for Islay
    • Finish
      the finish is unfortunately too short for my taste, beautiful fruity smoke with fine herbs.

  121. Noface83 scored this whisky 83 points Specialist

    Blind Parallel tasting of sample # 1 and sample # 2 in comparison Nose: # 1 - spicy smoke, pepper and spice cloves in campfire smoke, some lemongrass and vanilla, an overwhelming lemon sweet sweetened by spicy oak notes and smoky aromas # 2 - grassy and maritime, both the sweetness and the acidity of lemon, a pinch of salt and aromatic smoke. In addition, menthol fresh from the alcohol and a hint of caramel and vanilla. Taste: # 1 - strong spicy onset with plenty of pepper and smoke, the alcohol is now more present than in the nose, to the back then sweeter flavors (caramel, Zironensorbet) paired with warm ash. This ash note combined with some salt water and the now slightly drier sweetness accompanies you through the medium-long finish. # 2 - smoother and smoother with a hint of aromatic smoke and vanilla pudding with a splash of lemon juice, the finish being longer than # 1 adds a peppery oak and a good dose of wood with the warm smoke and maritime touch now add malty sweetness. Great taste - that's how an Islay Malt must taste. I liked the # 1 in the nose a little better with the flavor of the # 2 convince more with its power and fullness in the finish. The # 1 does have a bunch of flavors but they are not so interwoven and there was a lack of depth / substance. # 2 looks more mature and deeper, but also a bit simpler in the fullness of the aromas. But sometimes that's exactly what makes a good Islay smoker. Both are still quite young and without the smoke bonus would probably be a simple highlander for the Blend industry. Therefore, the 80+ pts are already a very good rating. Blind I give the # 1 good 80 pts and the # 2 gets 84 pts. Both are good and fun but I would prefer # 2 when buying bottles. Resolution (even sealed in the envelope - so just travel ^^) # 1 = Ardbeg An Oa 46.6% # 2 = Ardbeg Ten (the current Warehouse Edition) 46% Ah interesting comparison - the An Oa is definitely delicious and better than the counterparts of Laphroaig (Select) and Talisker (Skye) but also a bit more expensive than this one. Yes, it's different than the TEN (looks more like a mix of Corry and Ugi diluted down to TEN level) but as long as there are the three classics I would not see any reason to buy this whisky. But whoever bought it certainly did not do anything wrong. He is delicious. I have not had the TEN in the glass for a long time and so with a little bit of distance, you realize once again what a great drop that is and is rightly considered a classic!
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      80 80
    • Finish
      78 78

  122. Gris scored this whisky 81 points Expert Senior

    We recognize that it is Ardbeg but it is much less characteristic than all that I could taste. When I take an Ardbeg I want a real Ardbeg and have the feeling of finding myself in front of a fire by the sea ... it is much less traveled than a Corryvreckan that I prefer him for sure. Not bad, but a little "bland".
    • Nose
      A certain freshness and a certain sweetness. Generally when you use an Ardbeg, the person who enters the room feels it directly, here it is much less "invasive" on the side of the smoke. A honeyed and lemony side.
    • Taste
      Like the nose, we find an unusual sweetness for an Ardbeg. A little chocolate and spices on a slightly peppery side. Smoke, yes, yes, eh.
    • Finish
      A final a little short, there is also usually keep an Ardbeg in the mouth much longer. We stay on smoke and pepper.

  123. Drochaid scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    Color: harvest gold.
    Nose: Round and tenderly smoky (smoked apple tree wood) with creamy toffee, anise, treacle and dates. A headstrong note of juicy fruits like peach and banana. With a splash of water, the classic Ardbeg fragrance comes to the fore - lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. A light waxy aroma, reminiscent of the scent of candle wax, and hints of smoked herbs.
    Palate: A creamy-delicate texture releases a syrupy sweetness and aromas of milk chocolate, molasses toffee, anise, orange and smoked tea leaves in the mouth. Mild and sweet spices (nutmeg and cinnamon), cigar smoke and the very unusual taste of grilled artichokes. Long and sweet with floral notes, aromas of mint toffee and subtle malty / biscuit notes.
    Appearance: Persistent, seductive, delicate yet intense with hints of anise, hickory (wood) and a subtle smoke. (Houseofsinglemalts.ch)

  124. spigray scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      84 84
    • Finish
      86 86

  125. spigray scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    I´m not a friend of these young peaters. it´s well made, rather straight but lacks complexity.
    sorry folks at ardbeg, not my cup of tea and your tenner is better at a lower price.
    84/100
    • Nose
      rather young, rather peaty, rather ardbeg. salty, liquorice, a little sawdust, a few lemons. quite oaky after a while. px sherry casks are said to be involved but I cannot get them in this whisky.
    • Taste
      it´s a little less sweet than I would have expected with of course strong peat smoke, liquorice, tar and oak. and in the background there is a faint bourbonny taste.
    • Finish
      long, tarry

  126. DoctorK scored this whisky 80 points Expert Senior

    Imho a tamer version of the 10, a concession to the masses. Not bad, but clearly lacking the Ardbeg Umph.

  127. SKE scored this whisky 75 points Member Senior

    I am an Ardbeg fan but most of the recent releases seem to be rather a joke. The Perpetuum was ridiculous as a 200 year anniversary release, the kelpie is well overpriced and this one... Well what is it even supposed to be? The basic character is definitely there but it is one dimenional and quite boring dram... I cannot really recommend this one

  128. ARDBERG scored this whisky 82 points Connoisseur

    Love the nose and thought it is a winner. Then the virgin oak and PX came through and make the dram quite unpleasant for my tongue which hits rock bottom in the finish.

    I still hope they'll add just a simple 8 or 10yo first fill bourbon cask strength to their core range in my lifetime.
    • Nose
      87 87
    • Taste
      82 82
    • Finish
      79 79

  129. GJR scored this whisky 80 points Connoisseur

    Tasted at Whiskyexperience World of Drinks (simultanious with the Ten (which I prefer).

    Somewhat unbalanced dram, PX and Virgin oak are fighting.... a bit too sweet at times, and less peaty then older Ardbegs. Marketing dram.....
    • Nose
      82 82
    • Taste
      78 78
    • Finish
      80 80

  130. peej84 scored this whisky 83 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      85 85
    • Taste
      83 83
    • Finish
      81 81

  131. guerriero82 did not rate this whisky Connoisseur

    Whiskyfun.com : Ardbeg ‘An Oa’ (46%, OB, 2017) Four stars This new baby’s now part of Ardbeg’s core range. It’s been composed using a variety of casks, namely Pedro Ximenez (aargh), charred new oak, and bourbon (phew!) Sadly, it’s NAS, so probably very young. Colour: straw. Nose: fine, really. The PX never gets in the way, but indeed you feel this modern oakiness, with some ginger, sweet cinnamon and vanilla… Behind that, a rather mentholy profile, a few cough drops, and a spoonful of lemon marmalade. Rather modern style, quite uncomplicated, but fine. Whiffs of fresh seaweed in the background, which is obviously nice. Mouth: same feeling overall, one will feel that it’s not very complex and that it’s been a tad doctored (in the best sense of that word), but the combination brings a feeling of mezcal reposado, which isn’t bad at all. All-spice, bitter grapefruit, a little muscovado sugar, and more marmalade. Finish: medium, rather soft, with sweet oak spices and a little praline. Oh and soft mezcal. The lemons are back in the aftertaste, and would come together with a little cardamom. Comments: certainly not the wildest Ardbeg ever, and neither is it the most complex, or the peatiest, but despite the oak treatment that feels a bit, I rather like it. But yeah, I prefer the faithful Ten. SGP:555 - 85 points.

  132. Luigisim scored this whisky 85 points Connoisseur

    Younger version of Uigedail: a bit less of peat, smoke and body. 

    Very similar taste, just a junior version.

     

  133. Goethe scored this whisky 83 points Connoisseur

    Not as sweet as the Ten, not as much tar and barbecue as the Uigeadail got, not as much sugar cane and cigar smoke like the Corryvreckan. Therefor you got some fruits, menthol and a nice texture on the palate. Nice addition to the core range, although I would prefer the others. This one is to much in the let-me-start-and-Ardbeg-adventure direction. If you never had an Ardbeg go for it. Nothing wrong here. Just to weak for Ardbegians.Concerning price/performance ratio: 8/10
    • Nose
      Smoke, salted caramel, soft citrus, fruits, menthol, some vanilla, yellow and white gummi bears.
    • Taste
      Smoke, salt, citrus, almonds, barley, smoked salty fish, some spices, quite a nice texture.
    • Finish
      Medium to long. Smoke (dry), licorice, ashes.

  134. berarith73 scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      84 84
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  135. chrizthewiz scored this whisky 82 points Expert Junior

    Freshly squeezed lemons, subdued and clean smoke, freshly cut birch trees, lots of charcoal and ashes. Not too complex. On the palate the virgin oak is talking loud. I think they used heavily charred new oak and added only small amounts of px- and bourboncasks. Sharpness, green notes, ginger, bonfiresmoke, a feeling like sucking on charcoal. A hint of px-sweetness. And then its gone.

    Not too sure about this one. I dont think it adds something worthwhile to the core-range. It has a strange and "doctored" virgin oak taste that is not quite to my liking. Not as extreme as in the Kelpie, but it is there. I find it also to be fairly one-dimensional. Is it drinkable? Yes. Will I buy another bottle? Problaby not.

  136. MaximeC scored this whisky 86 points Member Senior

    It is much more finesse than the 10, it is a very balanced product that I appreciated. I recommend it for its overall quality.
    • Nose
      The smoke is present, rather sweet but very present. I find the alcohol pretty well integrated. After a few minutes, it softens and I find woody notes.
    • Taste
      In the mouth, it's ... deliciously well done! We find more finesse than in the 10, a much more integrated peat, smoky notes in delicacy and some fruity notes, rather on citrus. The mouth is delicate, slightly spicy but it lacks perhaps a little intensity for my taste.
    • Finish
      A very correct length, spices, just enough. Once the last swallow swallowed, I have a bit of salt on the tongue.

  137. Georges scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      86 86
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  138. Georges scored this whisky 86 points Connoisseur

    • Nose
      Peat smoke, toffee, figs, fruity (citrus, oranges), spicy (mint), butterscotch, tobacco
    • Taste
      Peat smoke, toffee, fruity (citrus, limes, oranges), spicy, tobacco, tea, chocolate
    • Finish
      Long, smoky, oaky, spicy

  139. The Macallan scored this whisky 75 points Connoisseur

    Maltstock 2017

    Ardbeg, yes but I expected a lot more from this version. It's more like an underated version of a 10 year old. If I had to choose between the An Oa or a regular 10, well you do the math.

  140. Rogier Engel scored this whisky 85 points Expert Senior

    • Nose
      83 83
    • Taste
      86 86
    • Finish
      86 86

  141. thijs100 scored this whisky 84 points Connoisseur

    A fine addition to Ardbeg's core range, although the dryness and big spiciness on the palate might not be everybody's cup of tea.
    • Nose
      Quite nice and malty, with the sweet peat being restrained and subtle, instead over overpowering. We've got lemon and orange juice, as well as vanilla and butterscotch. Some wood shavings too, accompanied by resin.
    • Taste
      A fairly oily mouthfeel, with a hit of spices (cracked black pepper, cloves) and a lingering ashiness. Somewhat briny, but also a whiff of peach and lime. Pretty dry and plenty of oak.
    • Finish
      Drying, spicy and briny.

  142. RL_whisky scored this whisky 80 points Connoisseur

    Batch L67986

    Tasted it once on it's own and four days later next to the Uigeadail (L12332) and Corryvreckan (L68298). Both An Oa and Uigeadail score the same for me, but they are quite different. The Corryvreckan being the more "distinguished" one for me. The An Oa has a medium peaty on the nose, and the peat is very much present on the taste. The Uigeadail being more sweet. Overall the An Oa is fresher than the Uigeadail, bit more towards the Corryvreckan for me. And, just like the Uigeadail, the An Oa gets a bit more spicy with water. I find it a good addition to the core range.
    • Nose
      78 78
    • Taste
      79 79
    • Finish
      79 79

  143. Maltkanzlei scored this whisky 86 points Expert Senior

    Not bad, not bad at all. Much better - but probably a bit higher priced - than the 'Select' or 'Small Batch' releases of other renowned Islay distilleries.
    • Nose
      Amazingly fresh and fruity in the nose. Lime cream. Maybe sweetened with a little honey. The smoke I feel noticeably less phenolic and less "dirty" and tarry, as in TEN, Uigeadail or even at various UAs, which I was allowed to taste in recent months. I have an interesting tobacco association. It will be interesting to see how the clear smoke affects the taste.
    • Taste
      46.6% ABV already suspect it. The drinking strength makes the malt look very pleasant on the tongue. The beautiful citrus note, which reminds me of some of the long-gone Ardbeg distillates, remains intact. The AN OA looks pleasantly creamy, but without being able to match the almost proverbial creaminess of a Port Charlotte in this aspect. The 'smelt' reminiscent of chocolate pralines. Only from the mouth feeling, even if I have no present Schokonoten in the taste. The sweetie has deposited the honey and seems to me now rather malty. Vanilla powder like a pudding. Interesting spice, cereal notes. Oatmeal, soaked barley, in addition to the nose now stronger smoke flavors. The smoke is quite maritime, but much less tarry and medically, as one is used to from the bottlings of recent years, what the AN OA a great clarity, I would almost say 'purity' provides, which I like personally. If there is a summer whisky from Ardbeg, the rather unconvincing Blasda times out, then it is the AN OA.
    • Finish
      No miss notes! No sulfur, no metal, although by nature he is certainly still young, and above all no excessive bitterness. So for me more balanced than the Kelpie, which scores in the nose with great smoke and eucalyptus and in the finish then goes under the bitter load of the Black Sea areas in the knee. But back to AN OA. The previously rather lemony smoke exchanges its fruitiness towards the end in slightly earthy notes that remind me quite remotely to the Ardbog and form a nice, round conclusion.

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