Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. News

Ardbeg An Oa is the Distillery’s Newest Scotch Whisky and Permanent Expression

By

Peaty, smoky Scotch whisky fans, rejoice. Ardbeg — arguably the leader in big, smoky Scotch whiskies — has recently released its newest permanent expression: An Oa.

Before we get to the whisky, roll that name around your mouth for a few seconds. Let the Scottish accent you think you’re good at take over. An Oa. How did you say it? Three syllables? An. Oh. Ah? Wrong.

Recommended Videos

Pronounced “an oh,” Ardbeg An Oa is the first permanent expression released by the brand in almost a decade. If you’re not celebrating yet, you should be. We are. Oh, we are.

An Oa follows on the heels of Corryvreckan, which was released in 2009 as a permanent expression. Before that, the brand released Uigeadail in 2003 and Ardbeg 10 Years Old in 2000.

An Oa is named after the cliffs (the Oa) that protect the southwest portion of Islay against the ocean. The whisky pays homage to the untamed portion of the island around those cliffs while also giving a nod to the safety provided by said cliffs.

The flavor of the whisky comes from, as you might expect, multiple factors. Perhaps most important to the process are the barrels. Not only are you getting the richness that comes Pedro Ximénes sherry casks, but you’re also getting spice notes from virgin oak and intense wood notes from ex-bourbon barrels.

On the nose, you’re going to find a subtle smoke that mixes with toffee and anise with an undercurrent of peaches and bananas. Ardbeg’s director of distilling, Bill Lumsden, suggests adding water to bring out the Ardbeggian elements that Scotch lovers have come to know and embrace: lime, pine, fennel, and a resinous tar note. On the palate, you’re met with sweetness and creaminess that delivers chocolate and toffee (again) followed by orange and smokiness. Spice character blending with smoke and tobacco round the mouth out. The finish is fairly long and carries licorice, hickory and more smoke.

If you’ve had Ardbeg before, you know what to expect. This is a big Scotch whisky that manages to be delicate and deep. It isn’t a beginner’s whisky, but that is part of the appeal. You don’t want to give this to your friend that is just starting to get into Scotch (unless you’re trying to jealously guard an entire category of whisky).

Ardbeg An Oa is non chill-filtered and bottled at ABV 46.6 percent. It retails for around $60.

Sam Slaughter
Sam Slaughter
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Food & Drink
Classic lagers to drink if you want your beer to “taste like beer”
Pilsner Urquell

When you think about the flavor of beer, what do you imagine? To me, it’s a crisp, refreshing, no-frills lager. The type of beer you’d just as likely crack open on an unseasonably warm spring day while grilling as you would after an afternoon of mowing the lawn on a hot, hazy, humid summer day. It’s light, refreshing, and tastes like beer.

That’s not to say that there isn’t a place for chocolate- and coffee-centric porters or boozy, barrel-aged stouts, or even tart, lip-smacking sour beers. There is a time and place for those and many other styles. It’s just that sometimes I want to crack open a beer and not taste an explosion of tropical fruit juices or get bashed in the head with malts or oaky wood. I want a beer that tastes the way I imagine it should. Specifically, I’m thinking about a balanced, thirst-quenching lager.

Read more
Food & Drink
SimplyGoodCoffee’s plastic-free brewer just got a major upgrade
SimplyGoodCoffee

SimplyGoodCoffee, a brand known for its innovative plastic-free coffee brewers, just dropped the next generation of plastic-free drip brewers. Pairing an exceptional cup of coffee with the one feature the original brewer was missing, the new SimplyGoodCoffee plastic-free programmable brewer lets coffee lovers wake up to a freshly brewed pot without sending hot or cold water through any aluminum or plastic.

As coffee drinkers become increasingly aware of what’s really going into their cup, this new launch includes a series of thoughtful upgrades from the original model. Beyond the programmability feature, the stainless-steel internal water pipe has been replaced with glass, the reservoir cover is now silicone, and the carafe and lid have been redesigned for an easier fit and greater durability. It also features an automatic drip-stop, a more efficient heater, improved water-level sensing, and programming that stays saved for up to three days during a power outage. The result? A smarter morning coffee routine upgrade for anyone looking to reduce plastic exposure without sacrificing a stellar cup of coffee.

Read more
Food & Drink
Basil Hayden’s New Limited Expression  Combines Kentucky Bourbon Craftsmanship with French Cognac Character
Alcohol, Beverage, Liquor

If you’ve been lucky enough to hit the Bourbon Trail, you’ve more than likely visited Basil Hayden at the James B. Beam Distilling Co. in Claremont, Kentucky. It’s undoubtedly a rite of passage when you’re there for the best bourbon in the world. This week, Basil Hayden ventured into an area no one expected but wants to try: Basil Hayden has just released a limited-edition cognac expression that stays true to the signature Basil Hayden profile bourbon lovers have come to love.

The renowned bourbon company is introducing the Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve, the brand’s first new liquid in years. Basil Hayden Cognac Cask Reserve is a refined new expression that explores the influence of French cognac casks to create an unexpected, beautifully balanced flavor experience. According to Basil Hayden, the Cognac Cask Reserve takes the brand’s signature high-rye, 80-proof bourbon and finishes it in specially selected French Cognac casks. The process brings rich layers of dried fruit, caramel, vanilla, subtle spice, and oak to Basil Hayden’s profile.

Read more