Scotland, Islay: Single malt whisky through the producing distilleries: history, making, production and tasting notes

Advertisers on this page have been carefully selected. (see list)

Islay:

Ardbeg

Tasting notes Distillery pictures

The distillery

Ardbeg
Port Ellen,
Argyll PA42 7DU
+44 1496 302 244

Owner: Glenmorangie Plc

Creation date: 1815

Photos

A first legal distillery belonging to Alexander Stewart closed in 1794, but the production went on, the distillery being situated in a place which was an excellent moonshine distillers' den during the 18th century. After a period rich in setbacks with the excise men, a legal distillery was build in 1815 by John McDougall.
The construction of the distillery began as soon as 1794, but was hardly achieved in 1817.
The distillery stayed the property of the McDougall family from 1817 till 1977, when it was bought by Hiram Walker and Sons. The Hiram Walker group became later part of the Allied Distillers group.
From 1979 to 1981, a very light peaty malt, called "Kildalton Style" named after a celtic cross near the distillery, was produced. Mothballed from 1981 to 1989, and its production was reduced to about a third of its capacity till 1997.
During the period of mothballing, the distillery stopped to use its own malting floors, which was a pity for the lovers of this extremely smoky malt. This smoky character of Ardbeg whisky from this period was due to the fact there was no fan in the pagoda roof over the kiln.
Since 1989, the malt used by Ardbeg is produced by the Port Ellen maltings, and has lost this extremely smoky characteristic.
Glenmorangie Plc bought the distillery in 1997 for about 10.5 million Euros.
The new owners revived the tradition of producing a very peaty single malt.
All the production is sold as single malt (which is rather unusual in the world of whisky). Ardbeg whisky is not used in blends, with may be one exception: Black Bottle which claims to contain whisky of each of the active distilleries on Islay.

The whisky

The sites below offer tasting notes for this distillery. Please click on the logo to access this notes.

		www.whisky-distilleries.info
		passionnesdumalt.free.fr/
		Club o. mosellan des amateurs de whisky
		www.whisky-distilleries.info
		www.whisky-fun.com

Geography

GoogleMap
View Larger Map

Islay

The Isle of Islay on the West coast, is by far the most appreciated producing area amongst the single malt lovers. Even if its surface is rather small, there are no less than 8 active distilleries, including a new one.

Click on the map for a list of the distilleries of the area, on the title for further information
about the Islay area, and if you want to make an "alphabetical journey" through the area, please
click on one of the pagode roofs, according to the direction you want to follow

Photos of the distillery

Photos TTN

Whisky search engine

Last update: Wednesday, 20-Aug-2008 17:02:26 CEST
Fri 29 08 2008, 08:19 - 21 visiteurs au cours de la dernière heure et 3 visiteurs sur le site en ce moment.
Copyright:Jean-Marie Putz (2003-2007)

Whisky is an alcoholic drink. Let's prefer quality to quantity as the abuse of alcohol beverages can damage the health. Consuming alcoholic drinks during pregnancy, even in small quantities, can seriously affect the health of the child. Consumption of alcohol impairs your ability to drive a car or operate machinery, and may cause health problems.