Ardbeg – An Oa (70cl, 46.6%)

This is Ardbeg An Oa, an Islay single malt bottled at 46.6% in a 70cl bottle. The nose is layered: smoked toffee and charred wood, peach, crushed pepper and fennel, tangy lime, waxed parchment, cut apples and caramelised banana, with soft coastal fruit notes that are both herbal and creamy. On the palate a creamy sweetness opens alongside chocolate and tobacco leaf, then nutmeg, cinnamon, candied orange peel, melon, toffee and roasted root vegetables. Sweet nuts, orange blossom and soft mint follow, leading to a long, balanced finish of smoked toffee and salted caramel.