The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
By Michael Cervin
Rating: A
From Islay comes this Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Ardbeg opened its doors in 1815 and has long been one of the peatiest, smokiest and complex of the Islay malts. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg stumbled financially and was on the brink of folding. The Glenmorangie Company bought Ardbeg in 1997 and since then, the distillery has re-established itself as a niche, almost cult malt, with a passionate following. This single malt is non chill-filtered and bottled at ABV 46.6%.
The Scotch
Color: Very light golden.
Nose: Immediate nose of peat, cigar smoke, and char and candied orange peel.
Palate: The entry is almost subversive. There is a burst of fruit and sweetness, but then the smoky peat takes over, and the apricot and lemon kicks in after that. Upon spending more time with this expression it lingers – there is a zestiness and pepper/floral spice creeping around the palate. Honey notes, honeysuckle, dried pear, sweet resin, grilled peach, candied orange zest all make themselves known. There is also a creaminess to this, a lovely viscosity.
If you love Islay, this will be up your alley. Though peaty, it also is balanced letting the fruit and wood support the smokiness. If you’re new to Islay, a little of this goes a long way as the peat is, as is typical of these whisky’s, potent and purposeful. It is nonetheless worthy of being on your shelf, even if it is visited only a few times a year. You need to have this kind of drinking experience once in a while.
The Price
Though the price varies depending on country you can expect about $65 US dollars or the equivalent.
When I opened my bottle of Ardbeg An Oa and took a sniff, it smelled like creosote. I took a sip and the creosote smell and taste were strong. I went ahead and drank some and later I got a headache. I’m pouring the rest down the drain.