Ardbeg – An Oa (70cl, 46.6%)

Ardbeg An Oa is an Islay single malt from the Ardbeg distillery, in a 70cl bottle at 46.6% ABV. It is named after the Mull of Oa, the peninsula that shelters the distillery from the worst of the Atlantic gales, and it is made to soften the distillery's smoke into a rounded character. The whisky is matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks, heavily charred virgin oak and ex-bourbon barrels, then married in a large French oak vat known as the Gathering Vat. The nose shows rounded smoke with vanilla toffee, dark milk chocolate and citrus zest. The palate is velvety and syrupy, with mellow wood smoke, cinnamon, clove and a savoury note of grilled artichoke. The finish is long, warming and smoky.