Ardbeg – An Oa (70cl, 46.6%)

Ardbeg An Oa is an Islay single malt bottled at 46.6% in a 70cl bottle. It is named after the Mull of Oa, the southern tip of the island, and is vatted in a large French oak vat at the distillery. The whisky brings together malt matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, spicier malt from new oak casks and Ardbeg matured in ex-bourbon casks. The nose is round and gently smoky, with creamy toffee, aniseed, molasses and dates, plus peach and banana. With water come lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar. The palate is creamy and syrupy-sweet, with milk chocolate, aniseed, orange, smoked tea, nutmeg, cinnamon and cigar smoke. The finish is lingering, with aniseed, hickory and light smoke.