Ardbeg – An Oa (75cl, 46.6%)

Ardbeg An Oa is an Islay single malt in a 75cl bottle at 46.6% ABV. It is named after the Mull of Oa in the south west of Islay, which shelters the coast where Ardbeg distillery stands. It was made to show a more approachable, rounded side of Ardbeg without losing the distillery style, and arrived in the summer of 2017 as the first addition to the core range in over a decade. The nose is sweet and creamy, with butterscotch, fennel seed, tobacco leaf and flourless orange cake. The palate is peaty but lighter in body, with cigars and golden syrup flapjacks. The finish is smoky treacle with a little peanut brittle.