Right next to the Lagavulin distillery is the Ardbeg distillery on the south coast of the Scottish island of Islay. On this south coast are three distilleries which are known worldwide for their very peaty single malts, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Ardbeg. Ardbeg is named after the small hamlet where the distillery is located. Ardbeg has a very turbulent history with many ups and downs. From international awards to temporary closures of the distillery.
Chapters
- Distillery details
- History
- Some facts
- List of edition
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Distillery details
- Name – Ardbeg, pronounced ard-BEG.
- Year of foundation – 1815
- Address – Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll, PA42 7EB, Scotland.
- Number of stills – one wash still and one spirit still (the stills)
- Annual production – 1,100,000 liters
- Water source – Loch Arinambeast & Loch Uigedale
- Owner – Moët Hennessy> Glenmorangie Plc. (since 1997)
History
At the end of the 18th century, whiskey was already being distilled illegally in Ardbeg. The Ardbeg Distillery has been a legitimate concern since 1815 when owner John McDougall gets a license. In 1835 production grows to 2,273 liters per week. The distillery gets a new owner in 1838. Glasgow liquor merchant Thomas Buchanan takes over the distillery for £ 1,800. John McDougall’s son Alexander will remain in charge of production. Alexander McDougall dies in 1853. From then on, the company has been run by Colin Hay and McDougall’s sisters, Margaret and Flora. The two sisters can call themselves Scotland’s first female distillers. In 1886 almost a third of the local population worked in the distillery. The demand for Ardbeg continues to increase, as does the production, which in 1887 rose to a record of 1,100,000 liters. In the years that followed, little news happened until Harin Wakler took over Ardbeg in 1977. But then things get worse. Production slows down to next to nothing and the distillery is forced to close in 1981. In total, eighteen jobs will be lost and this is a catastrophe for local residents. In 1987 Allied Lyons acquires the distillery and two years later production is again on a small scale. This production mainly goes to blenders, Ardbeg can be found in Ballantine’s and Teacher’s. Nevertheless, the distillery has to close again in 1991. Until the Glenmorangie Company takes over the distillery in 1997. Full-time production starts again, a visitor center and Old Kiln Café are opened a year later. Various bottlings are also marketed, such as:
- 17 years Old
- 1978 vintage
- Ardbeg Provenance
Things are finally improving quickly and within twelve months the Ardbeg Distillery was named Distillery of the Year 1998. The Visitor Center and Old Kiln Café attracted 3,500 visitors that year. A year later, production is already back at 600,000 liters. Ardbeg bottlings will regularly win awards in the coming years. Production slowly increases to one million liters in 2005. In the same year Ardbeg comes under the wing of Moët Hennessy / LVMH and Ardbeg becomes a luxury product with the corresponding price. Ardbeg still regularly wins prizes such as, Word Whiskey of the Year.
Some facts
- The distillery has four warehouses where a total of 24,000 whiskey casks (barrels) can be stored.
- The barley is malted by the local Port Ellen malt house to Ardbeg specifications. It is considered the most peaty malt in Scotland.
- Ardbeg whiskey is often released with a higher alcohol percentage than the standard 40%
List of edition
The Ardbeg whiskeys are often described in taste as being smoky, peaty and medicinal.
- Ardbeg Ten – 46% the standard edition.
- Ardbeg 17 years – 40% is getting harder to get
- Ardbeg Uigeadail – 54.2%
- Ardbeg Still Young – 58.3%
- Ardbeg Almost There – 54.1%
- Ardbeg Renaissance – 55.9%
- Ardbeg Blasda – 40%
- Ardbeg Corryvreckan – 57.1%
In addition, there are regular special editions of the distillery and independent bottlers.