Here on Islay, there’s no rush. So why not sit back awhile, wherever you are in the world, and enjoy your visit to the home of Ardbeg, the Ultimate Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky.
It is, perhaps, the most peaty malt whisky in the world - certainly of all the Islay malts. Not to mention beautifully balanced, complex and deep. It’s unthinkable now, but in 1981 production ceased and the distillery was mothballed. Happily in 1997, this beautiful malt began to flow again and enjoys enduring protection from all things bad by a loyal band in the shape of The Ardbeg Committee - a worldwide family of Ardbeg aficionados in 90 countries who work tirelessly to drink more Ardbeg and bring others into this esteemed fold. If you love Ardbeg, you too can help us keep the doors open by becoming a member… you’ll enjoy some rather nice privileges too. But first things first. Pour yourself a wee (or large!) dram and take a look around.
The Distillery
Situated on the south coast of Islay, Ardbeg was famous as a hideout for smugglers who had to make themselves scarce after their cache was discovered by the Excise men in the late 18th century.
The origins of Ardbeg Distillery date as far back as 1794. John MacDougall established the present distillery in 1815, which was fully operational by 1817. The famous whisky historian Alfred Barnard reported in “The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom” that yearly production was about 500 gallons by 1835, although by the time of his visit to Ardbeg in 1886 this had risen to a substantial 250,000 gallons.
The Distillery Today
The MacDougall family retained ownership until 1977 when Hiram Walker gained control. However, with the majority of its output used in blending, Ardbeg struggled to remain viable during the economic downturn of the 1970s, resulting in it being run on a care and maintenance basis from 1983. The distillery closed in July 1996 only to reopen in 1997.
The Whisky
Ardbeg maintains the robust and earthy aromas associated with Islay malts. Described as having a hefty bite and a rich finish, flavours detected include peat-smoke, seaweed, sawdust and iodine. A bedtime malt.
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