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Ardbeg

No: 33
Producer: Glenmorangie plc
Region: Islay
District: South Shore  -   Multimap view
OS Sheet 60 ; Map reference NR 415 462 ; Latitude 55 38.6° N, Longitude 6 6.5° W
Founded 1815 ; Operating Status: mothballed 1996; reopening soon

The distillery may have is origins as far back as 1794 [and was reputedly originally the hideout of smugglers]. It was definitely operating by 1817. It is a fine example of a traditional malt distillery, and most handsome. After a short period of closure it reopened in 1989, to the delight of enthusiasts for Islay malts. Its own maltings, which had a distinctive design, did not reopen.
© Michael Jackson 1994, ???

Ardbeg has been returned to use from moth-balling.. [tr, July 1995]

Ardbeg is closed to the public. The manager at Ardbeg also runs the Laphroig Distillery. [as, 1995]

The latest I heard was that it was in the middle of a major refurbishment having been bought by Glenmorangie.

The distillery sells some of its malt as blending material under the name "Wardhead".


Distillery rating: 4*

Port Ellen, Islay
Tel: 01496-2244



tastings

15 yr old, 92 proof
Rich, but not as deep or smokey as the other Islays. My least favorite of the class. [lh]

SMWS bottling 33.24: Ardbeg 15yo:
Rather paler than other Ardbegs that I've tasted. This whisky has proved very popular. They are already on 33.26 having sold out of 33.24 and 33.25. The whisky was very smooth, but with lovely notes of peat and smoke. I love the way that on exhaling you get the feeling of having smoked a good cigar (and without most of the health risks!). If my budget was bigger, I would have bought it. [bh]

Search Dr. Do'g's index for the history of Ardbeg
There just might be some news about Ardbeg in The "Scotsman" newspaper