Ardbeg Adds New Scotch Whisky To Its Core Product Line Up

The popular Islay distillery Ardbeg is set to debut as part of its regular retail whisky offerings a new single malt described as being “smoky, sweet and rounded.” Ardbeg An Oa, as it is named, is the first such new addition to the permanent expressions line up in almost a decade.

Ardbeg An Oa, according to those behind it, is a non-age statement whisky bottled at 46.6% ABV. It is a mixing of whiskies aged in different types of barrels Ardbeg has lying around, including Pedro Ximénes, virgin oak and ex-bourbon. All of these are brought together in a special French oak “Gathering vat” housed in the distillery’s new Gathering Room, formerly a grain store, for an undisclosed amount of time before final bottling.

“There is a wonderfully Ardbeggian magic to The Gathering Room,” said Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks, Dr Bill Lumsden, in a prepared statement, “where the parcels married together in this whisky merge over time, to reach new levels of complexity.  Ardbeg An Oa’s rounded and subtly smoky aromas reflect all the contrasts of the Mull of Oa, with notes of creamy toffee, aniseed, dates and hints of peach and banana.”

Plans call for An Oa to be available starting in September for around £50, or about $65 USD. You’ll find more official and complete tasting notes below from Ardbeg.

• Color: Harvest gold
• Aroma: Rounded and subtly smoky (applewood smoked), with creamy toffee, aniseed, treacle and dates.  A curious suggestion of juicy fruits, such as peach and banana.  With a drop of water, come reminders of Ardbeg’s classic fragrance – lime, pine resin, fennel, saddle soap and tar.  A gentle waxiness, like fragrant candle wax, and hints of smoked herbs.
• Taste: A smooth, creamy texture leads into a huge syrupy sweetness, flavours of milk chocolate, treacle toffee, aniseed, orange and smoky tea leaves.  Gentle, sweet spices (nutmeg and cinnamon), some cigar smoke, and a very unusual flavour of grilled artichokes.  Long and sweet, with floral overtones, mint toffee and some gentle malty/biscuity notes.
• Finish: Lingering, seductive, gentle yet intense, with flavours of aniseed, hickory and distant subtle smoke.