Review #498 - Ardbeg An Oa Re-Review
Ardbeg's An Oa is supposed to be the most approachable single malt of their core range - still plenty of strong peat smoke, but also more rounded due to time spent in the distillery's 'Gathering Vat,' where the spirit from different casks is given time to marry before the bottling process.
There are several types of casks used in An Oa: first fill ex-bourbon barrels add some wood notes, Pedro Ximenez sherry casks add a fruity sweetness, and virgin new charred oak is supposed to add spice. The distillery's website also mentions that other types could be used in this vatting, though they don't give any further details.
After marrying in the Gathering Vat, An Oa is bottled at a strength of 46.6% ABV without any age statement. There's no statement on added coloring, either, though based on the typical color of Ardbeg whiskies, we believe it's at least close to natural color; we do know that chill filtration is not used, based on the label's statement.
Ardbeg An Oa
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 65 (2025)
Age Statement: NAS
Strength: 46.6% ABV
Cask Makeup: First fill ex-bourbon, Pedro Ximenez sherry, and new charred oak casks
Details: Not chill filtered
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 4 times over 7 months; bottles at 100% (blind tasting), 60% (blind tasting), 30% (blind tasting), and 20% (blind tasting) fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a nosing glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: Quite smoky up front - charred barbecue, sharp peat, a bit of ash, almost cigarettes. Light bright lemon and orange add some fruit, followed later by lemon curd and lime; white pepper combines with some youthful scents for a sharper side. In one tasting, we found a lactic note, almost like Greek yogurt, as well as butterscotch.
Palate: A medium-thin mouthfeel; very ashy and peaty, with sharp pepper, jalapeno, cinnamon, and wood char. Sweetness balances the profile: orange slice candies, some vanilla. We get a freshly baked bread and malt note at the back, as well as a bit of brine; complexity is moderate, maybe a little below the level of other Ardbegs.
Finish: Softer, still with plenty of ashy peat and wood char. Fruit notes are mild now - still a bit of lemon citrus, along with a nice stone fruit flavor. Mild hot peppers and orange arrive in the aftertaste; it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: A nice Ardbeg, but this one comes across as a bit simpler or less defined despite the relatively complex cask mix. The strength is fine, but it doesn't allow the complexity or punchiness that we find in sister bottlings Corryvreckan and Uigeadail; then again, that might not be the point, considering the price.
Because that price is reasonable, value is still decent, about average to us. The 10 Year from Ardbeg still gives us the best value, and the Uigeadail and Corryvreckan give the most interesting tasting experience, though they're more pricey; this sits nicely in the middle.
Our Average Rating: 6.3 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.43
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
