Ardbeg AN OA Single Malt Whiskey 750ml

Ardbeg Distillery has stood on the rugged southern coast of Islay since 1815, when the MacDougall family first began distilling there. Renowned as one of the peatiest, smokiest of all the island's single malts, Ardbeg built its reputation on a handful of core expressions before An Oa arrived in 2017 as the brand's first new permanent release in nearly a decade.

An Oa takes its name from the Mull of Oa, the rounded peninsula that shelters the distillery from the worst of the Atlantic, and the whisky is built to match its rounded, approachable character. Component whiskies matured separately in virgin charred oak, Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, and ex-bourbon barrels are brought together in a bespoke French oak Gathering Vat, where they are left to marry before bottling. The result is a non-chill-filtered single malt with no age statement, released at just under 47 percent alcohol by volume.

The nose leads with dark chocolate, aniseed, and wisps of cigar smoke over the distillery's trademark peat. On the palate, syrupy sweetness and wild fruit soften a smoky core, finishing long and sweet with floral notes and toffee. Sip it alongside dark chocolate, smoked almonds, or a mild cigar.