Established in 1815, the award-winning house of Ardbeg sits back from the rippling waves of the North Channel. At times a thick mist enshrouds the whitewashed walls of the distillery, with only the peaked roofs and the black letters that spell out “Ardbeg” being visible.
Faces
Here to stay
Islay native Mickey Heads is the 20th distillery manager and the custodian of production at Ardbeg. He is supported by a passionate local and global committee that helped save the house from closure, and which today protects Ardbeg’s status as one of Scotland’s best-loved whiskies.
Places
Heart and home
The wild and rugged island of Islay, with its soft water, fertile soil and acres of peat, is a place of pilgrimage for the single-malt connoisseur. The maritime position of the Ardbeg distillery infuses subtle salty notes into the taste of this collectable whisky.
The peaty paradox
The production methods at Ardbeg ensure that each dram of whisky is intensely flavored. Among the smokiest and most peaty of all the Islay single malts, it is also renowned for its sweetness, a characteristic known as the “peaty paradox.”
