An Oa is the most approachable bottle in Ardbeg's permanent range, and it exists because of a piece of equipment rather than a cask type. At the distillery there is a bespoke oak vessel called the Gathering Vat, made from French oak, and this whisky is the reason it was built. Component whiskies matured separately in three different cask types are brought together in that vat and left to marry before bottling, which is a step most distilleries skip entirely. Pedro Ximénez sherry casks contribute dark sweetness, raisin and treacle. Virgin charred oak brings spice, vanilla and a tannic grip. Classic ex bourbon casks supply the familiar Ardbeg backbone. Marrying them in wood rather than simply blending them in a tank allows the components to integrate rather than sit alongside one another, and that is precisely what gives An Oa its defining quality: roundness. The label puts it in three words, smoky, sweet, singularly rounded, and that is an honest summary. The peat is unmistakably Ardbeg but the edges have been softened, which makes this the bottle to reach for if the distillery's more ferocious expressions have felt like hard work. The name comes from the Mull of Oa, the rounded headland at Islay's southernmost point that shelters the distillery from the Atlantic, and it is pronounced an oh. Bottled at 46.6 percent alcohol by volume, non chill filtered, so nothing has been stripped out. Drink it neat, over ice, or as the peated component in an Old Fashioned.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46.6% |
| Proof |
93.2 |
| Size |
700ml (70cl) |
| Country |
Scotland |
| Region |
Islay |
| Category |
Single Malt Scotch Whisky |
| Expression |
An Oa |
| Maturation |
Pedro Ximénez sherry, virgin charred oak and ex bourbon casks, married in the Gathering Vat |
| Age |
No age statement |
| Filtration |
Non chill filtered |
| Colour |
Natural, no added colouring |
| Distillery |
Ardbeg Distillery Limited, established 1815 |
Tasting Notes
Color: Warm amber gold, natural and uncoloured.
Nose: Smoky and sweet together, with aniseed, treacle and dark chocolate over a soft peat smoke, with orange and banana lifting behind.
Palate: Rounded and full, opening on smoky peat and sweet fruit before moving into milk chocolate, nutty toffee, aniseed and a gentle herbal note.
Finish: Smooth and lingering, with a smoky sweetness that fades gently rather than sharply, closing on tar and dark fruit.
FAQ
What proof is Ardbeg An Oa? It is bottled at 93.2 proof, or 46.6 percent alcohol by volume, non chill filtered.
How is it pronounced? An Oa is said an oh. It takes its name from the Mull of Oa, the rounded headland at the southernmost point of Islay that shelters the distillery from the Atlantic.
What is the Gathering Vat? A bespoke French oak vessel at the distillery where whiskies from different cask types are brought together and left to marry before bottling. An Oa is the expression it was built for.
What casks is it matured in? Three types: Pedro Ximénez sherry casks for dark sweetness, virgin charred oak for spice and vanilla, and classic ex bourbon casks for the Ardbeg backbone.
Is this a good first Ardbeg? Yes. It is the most rounded and approachable bottle in the permanent range, with the peat clearly present but the sharper edges softened by the cask marriage.
Where can I buy Ardbeg An Oa online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
