Ardbeg – An Oa (70cl, 46.6%)

Ardbeg An Oa is part of the distillery's core range, a single malt from Islay bottled at 46.6% ABV in a 70cl bottle. It is named after the Oa, the land to the west of Islay that shelters the Kildalton coast from the Atlantic. The whisky comes from a Gathering vat created by Dr Bill Lumsden, in which whiskies from ex-PX, ex-bourbon and virgin oak casks, among others, were married. The nose is soft and lightly smoky, with creamy toffee, aniseed, molasses and dates, then lime, pine resin and tar with water. The palate is creamy and sweet, with milk chocolate, orange, nutmeg, cinnamon and cigar smoke. The finish is long, with aniseed, hickory and gentle smoke.