Ardbeg Whisky
Ardbeg is one of the most famous whisky distilleries in the world, and for good reason. The Ardbeg distillery produces some of the finest single malt whisky around and has been doing so for centuries.
The Ardbeg distillery is located on the island of Islay, off the coast of Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1815 by John McDougall and has been in operation ever since. Ardbeg whisky is renowned for its smoky flavour, which comes from the peat that is used to smoke the barley during the whisky-making process.
Ardbeg lies solitary, in a small cove off the south coast of Islay. It was once a stage for illegal distillation when smugglers took advantage of the remote location and exceptional conditions for whisky production. Eventually, excise men seized the original, illegitimate buildings from the smugglers and destroyed them.
It was not until 1815 that a legal distillery was established and founded by John McDougall. Sitting nearby leviathan distilleries; Laphroaig and Lagavulin, Ardbeg has always produced a very sought-after single malt, despite Ardbeg's production scale being less than half that of its neighbours.
Ardbeg ran into some financial difficulties and the distillery was closed in 1981. It was not until 1989 that distillation resumed, although on a very small scale. After closing again in 1996, the owners, Allied Domecq, put the Ardbeg distillery up for sale. It was bought in 1997 by Glenmorangie Co and was, at last, restored to its former grandeur.
Ardbeg's chief watersource, Loch Uigeadail, or 'dark and mysterious place' in Gaelic, became the inspiration for a bottling launched in 2003 under the same name. Ardbeg Uigeadail was later Jim Murray's 2009 World Whisky of the Year, a title held previously by Ardbeg's ten year-old. Ardbeg has become known for its rich, peated whiskies, very easily identifiable by their fullness of body and perfect harmony of flavour.
Ardbeg was acquired by luxury giant Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy in 2005. In 2006, Stuart Thompson, who had served as the distillery manager at Ardbeg since the take-over by Glenmorangie PLC in 1997, left the distillery after working there for almost a decade. Following this, Michael "Mickey" Heads, an Islay native and former manager at Jura who had worked at Ardbeg years earlier, took over in March 2007.
Ardbeg release its peatiest expression ever in 2009, in the form of Supernova.
In 2018, construction of a new still house at the Ardbeg distillery began which will house four new stills, while the original still house is being refurbished in order to house six new washbacks. This will increase production from 1.4 million litres to 2.4 million litres.
Ardbeg Perpetuum
In 1815, the Ardbeg distillery was founded by John McDougall on the Isle of Islay. In 2015, Ardbeg Perpetuum was released during Fèis Ìle 2015 in celebration of their 200th anniversary. Dr. Bill… More info
Ardbeg 1997 (bottled 2003) Very Young For Discussion
Initially exclusively released for the Ardbeg Committee, here we have the very first release of Ardbeg Very Young, bottled 'For Discussion' within the Ardbeg Committee. Geddit? It contains some of… More info
Ardbeg Corryvreckan - Committee Reserve
Ardbeg Corryvreckan, this is a the Committee Reserve bottling, released in 2008 to great critical acclaim. This bottle was part of a private collection - if you'd like more detailed photos just… More info
Ar11 - Elements of Islay (Ardbeg)
Elements of Islay takes on Ardbeg! This smoky single malt is the eleventh release in the "Ar" series, and spent its first 12 years of ageing in American oak. Then, it spent another seven years in a… More info
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Ardbeg 1998 (bottled 2004) Very Young
The first part in the Young series from Ardbeg, tracking the development of Ardbeg whisky, aged for just a few years, all the way up to the standard Ardbeg at 10 years old. Very interesting indeed,… More info
Ardbeg Exploration Pack
Explore the range of fantastic whiskies from the renowned Ardbeg distillery on the Isle of Islay with the Ardbeg Exploration Pack. This set features a 70cl bottle of Ardbeg 10 Year Old (a timeless… More info
Ardbeg Kelpie - Committee Release 2017
It's the Committee Release of Ardbeg Kelpie, a single malt released in 2017 having been matured in casks made from virgin Black Sea oak and more traditional bourbon casks. The Committee Release is… More info
Ardbeg 1978 (bottled 1997)
An exciting old bottling of Ardbeg single malt Scotch whisky, distilled all the way back in 1978. This was a year after Hiram Walker became the overall owner of the Islay distillery, and a few years… More info
Ardbeg 21 Year Old (Committee Release)
A very limited and rare release from Ardbeg, specially bottled for the Committee. This was crafted from 12 carefully chosen casks of Ardbeg distilled in 1979 and 1980. Released in 2001. Please… More info
Ardbeg 1993 (cask 1290) (bottled 2017) - Mackillop's Choice
Single cask single malt from the legendary Ardbeg distillery, bottled for the Mackillop's Choice range. A release of just 240 bottles, presented at cask strength. Bottling from this Islay distillery… More info
Ardbeg 12 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
An indie Ardbeg - always exciting stuff! This is a 12 year old single malt from the Islay-based distillery, bottled by That Boutique-y Whisky Company. Once again it features Geert Bero, Ardbeg… More info
Ardbeg 12 Year Old 2005 (cask 70161) - Dun Bheagan (Ian Macleod)
Single cask Ardbeg, independently bottled by Ian Macleod as part of the Dun Bheagan range. This was allowed to mature for 12 years in a single hogshead, from 2005 to 2018, and then bottled at 46%… More info
Ardbeg 12 Year Old 2005 - North Star Spirits
Indie bottlings of Ardbeg are always very exciting indeed. This one comes to us via the North Star Spirits folks, and has been matured for 12 years - from March 2005 to February 2018. Just 332… More info
Ardbeg 13 Year Old 2005 (cask 700192) - Chieftain's (Ian Macleod)
When indie bottlings of Ardbeg arrive at MoM Towers, we always get a bit excited - because they're very often excellent. This one certainly is. It's a Chieftain's bottling from Ian Macleod, distilled… More info
Ardbeg 18 Year Old - Single Cask (Master of Malt)
Ardbeg changed hands between 1996 and 1997, since then the distillery has only released a Ten Year Old with an age statement. So it is pretty darn exciting *massively massively exciting* to get to… More info
Ardbeg 2000 (bottled 2018) (cask 18010) - Malts of Scotland
Oooh, indie Ardbeg - delicious! This is a Malts of Scotland bottling of single malt from the Ardbeg distillery, drawn from a single sherry butt which was home to the whisky from 2000 to 2018. A… More info
Ardbeg 25 Year Old 1992 (cask 12290) - Xtra Old Particular Platinum (Douglas Laing)
The Xtra Old Particular Platinum series was launched by Douglas Laing in celebration of its 70th anniversary - and the range itself has been kicked off in very dramatic fashion. A 25 year old single… More info
Ardbeg 18 Year Old 1998 (cask 1776) - Straight From The Cask (La Maison du Whisky 60th Anniversary)
A very exciting bottling from La Maison du Whisky's 60th Anniversary celebrations - 18 year old Ardbeg single malt, aged in a first-fill bourbon barrel from June 1998 to August 2016. This was bottled… More info
Ar8 - Elements of Islay (Ardbeg)
The Elements of Islay range (or should that be periodic table, considering the whole theme of the series?) grows ever larger with the eighth release of their "Ar" single malt. Now, if only we could… More info
Ardbeg 25 Year Old 1991 (cask 11179) - Xtra Old Particular (Douglas Laing)
Ooh, an indie bottling of Ardbeg, and a very handsome one at that! This is a 25 year old Ardbeg, distilled in March 1991 and bottled in June 2016 by the chaps from Douglas Laing for their Xtra Old… More info
Ardbeg 25 Year Old 1991 - Old & Rare (Hunter Laing) Magnum (1.5L)
150cl, 51.9%
Well then, this is pretty bloomin' awesome, isn't it? A 1.5 litre magnum bottle of 25 year old Ardbeg single malt, independently bottled by Hunter Laing for their Old & Rare range. The refill… More info
Ardbeg - Batch 2 (That Boutique-y Whisky Company)
Ardbeg sits on the island's Southern coast and produces its highly peated malt whisky. Ardbeg closed in July 1996, thankfully the distillery was bought by Glenmorangie plc in 1997 and the distillery… More info
Ardbeg 20 Year Old 1996 (casks 808 & 811) - Chieftain's (Ian Macleod)
An indie bottling of Ardbeg - these are always exciting indeed! This one comes from Ian Macleod's Chieftain's range, and was aged in a pair of barrels for 20 years, from March 1996 to June 2016. 601… More info
Ardbeg 1998 Single Cask 1275
An astonishing 11 year old single cask from Ardbeg - stunning in flavour and very, very rare. This was distilled in 1998 and aged in cask 1275 (a first fill bourbon barrel) before bottling in 2009 -… More info
Ardbeg 21 Years Old 1993 (cask 1289) - Mackillop's Choice
This is an independently bottled, single cask, 21 year old Ardbeg single malt Scotch whisky. Yes, writing that sort of thing is always pretty exciting to do - almost as much as reading it! This Islay… More info
About Ardbeg
1,000,000 litres
Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll PA42 7EA
The Glenmorangie Co (Moët Hennessy)
www.ardbeg.com
First record of a distillery at Ardbeg. It was founded by Alexander Stewart.
The MacDougalls, later to become licensees of Ardbeg, are active on the site through Duncan MacDougall.
The current distillery is founded by John MacDougall, son of Duncan MacDougall.
Alexander MacDougall, John's son, dies and sisters Margaret and Flora MacDougall, assisted by Colin Hay, continue the running of the distillery. Colin Hay takes over the licence when the sisters die.
Colin Elliot Hay and Alexander Wilson Gray Buchanan renew their license.
Colin Hay's son takes over the license.
Ardbeg Distillery Ltd is founded.
Hiram Walker and Distillers Company Ltd jointly purchase the distillery for £300 000
Widely considered as the last vintage of 'old, peaty' Ardbeg. Malt which has not been produced in the distillery´s own maltings is used in increasingly larger shares after this year.
Hiram Walker assumes single control of the distillery. Ardbeg closes its maltings.
Kildalton, a less peated malt, is produced over a number of years.
The distillery closes in March.
Allied Lyons takes over Hiram Walker and thereby Ardbeg.
Production is restored with Iain Henderson as Manager. All malt is taken from Port Ellen.
The distillery closes in July and Allied Distillers decides to put it up for sale during the autumn.
Glenmorangie plc buys the distillery for £7 million (whereof £5.5 million is for whisky in storage). On stream from 25th June. Ardbeg 17 years old and Provenance are launched
A new visitor centre opens.
Ardbeg 10 years is introduced. The Ardbeg Committee (a worldwide forum for Ardbeg fans) is launched and has 30 000 members after a few years.
Lord of the Isles 25 years and Ardbeg 1977 are launched.
Ardbeg Committee Reserve and Ardbeg 1974 are launched.
Uigeadail is launched.
Very Young Ardbeg (6 years) and a limited edition of Ardbeg Kildalton (1300 bottles) are launched. The latter is a non-peated cask strength from 1980.
Serendipity is launched.
Ardbeg 1965 and Still Young are launched. Distillery Manager Stuart Thomson leaves Ardbeg after nine years. Almost There (9 years old) and Airigh Nam Beist are released.
Michael Heads becomes the new distillery manager. Ardbeg Mor, a 10 year old in 4.5 litre bottles is released.
The new 10 year old, Corryvreckan, Rennaisance, Blasda and Mor II are released.
Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde.