Don't like ads? | No ads |
*Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Distilled & Bottled by Ardbeg
Region: Islay
Type: Single Malt
ABV: 46.6%
Age: NAS
Color: gold/hay
An Oa is named after the Mull of Oa which is a rocky peninsula that protects, among other things, the Ardbeg distillery from the full brunt of the Atlantic’s fury. The whisky itself is a vatting of ex-bourbon, virgin and Pedro Ximenez casks and is bottled at 46.6% proof without chill-filtration. As far as I can tell, there has been no added coloring either.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Initial scents of barley and yeast notes couple with some salt spray and drying seaweed. cooked onion and a gentle waft of smoke remind you this is a peated dram. The more I sniff it, the more everything turns into butterscotch candy too.
Palate: The whisky is light on the palate and a continuation of that sweet butterscotch note from the nose. Additional notes of syrup and a touch of melon give way to more light smoke as the session goes on.
Finish: Medium in length, the finish starts as chocolate and honey before pepper and burnt wood add a nice bite of spice to the finish
Rating: 6/10
Conclusion: This is solid whisky and works well as a daily sipper but if you approach An Oa as a proofed down version of Uigeadail, you might be disappointed.
Uigeadail has a much heavier sherry influence to me, and its higher proof gives it more weight on the palate and a longer finish. Instead, I find An Oa to be more bourbon and virgin oak forward.
It blends in some pleasant sweet notes with nice spice and some smoke but overall it is a much less aggressive pour that should be judged on its own.
Ratings|Description
1-3| No
4| Sub-par
5| Good
6| Very Good
7| Great
8| Excellent
9| Incredible
10| Unsurpassable
Featured Products
- Neat Traveler
- View Larger
- Description:The Aged & Ore Neat Traveler is a complete travel kit for spirits. We combined our widely praised Neat Glass with one of our 3oz Flight Bottles and housed them together in a custom EVA travel case. Perfect for a night away with your favorite pour. The tie
- Bottle Flight
- View Larger
- Description:The Aged & Ore Bottle Flight is a premium set of 4 custom silicone wrapped glass bottles designed to transport and share samples of your favorite spirits. The flight bottles come in a custom EVA travel case that fits perfectly in any small bag. An Aged &
- Travel Bundle
- View Larger
- Description:This Bundle combines two of our crowd favorite products, creating the ultimate travel bundle to bring along your favorite spirits and glassware. Bundle Includes: Neat Traveler (Gray) Bottle Flight (Gray) Note: This bundle is only available in gray and col
*Bourbon Culture is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.