Ardbeg – An Oa BBQ Smoker Edition (70cl, 46.6%)

Ardbeg – An Oa BBQ Smoker Edition is a whisky from Ardbeg (Islay). Bottled at 46.6% ABV, 70cl. Since its establishment in 1815, The Ardbeg distillery has been on a tumultuous rollercoaster ride of ownership changes, closures, and reopening. Stability was only achieved relatively recently, when the ailing distillery was purchased in 1997 by industry giants, Glenmorangie. The subsequent years have seen the distillery’s popularity swell, with fans enticed by the signature style of tarry, sooty smoke, balanced against citric sweetness and an oily mouthfeel. While Ardbeg still retains its distinctive personality, it has definitely been influenced by Glenmorangie’s propensity for experimenting with cask finishing, and (dare we say it) NAS expressions. An Oa: Introduced in 2017, the An Oa marked the first new core release from Ardbeg in ten years. Its complex flavour derives from a vatting of Pedro Ximenez, bourbon, and charred virgin oak cask that were married in the distillery’s custom French Oak “gathering vat”. The whisky’s vibrant characteristics are inspired by its namesake, the Mull of Oa, a spectacular, rugged peninsula on the southern coast of Islay. Where distillin’ meets grillin’. Just pop your smoky embers in the tin and have your food taste as smoky as your dram!