Ardbeg Distillery

 

Ardbeg malts.

This evening, I am posting an update on Ardbeg, one of nine working whisky distilleries on the island of Islay, off the West Coast of Scotland.

In 2021 two new wash stills and two new spirit stills were installed in the new still house. As a consquence of the enlarged capacity up to 2.8 million litres of alcohol can be produced each year. The old distillery is no longer in operation.

(To put this increase in perspective, the capacity at Glenfiddich is about 14.0m litres p.a.)

Ardbeg Distillery

Summary information:

  • Current distillery founded in 1815 by a family of MacDougalls although distilling on the Port Ellen site can be traced back to 1794.
  • The name translates as ‘little height’ or promontory.
  • Subsequent to its founding, the distillery underwent many changes of ownership and intermittent closures until acquired by present owner, Glenmorangie in 1997. Both Glenmorangie and Ardbeg have been owned by luxury brand owner, LVMH since 2004.
  • From 2000 onwards, a range of single malts was introduced with the 10 year-old as flagship.
  • Malts are predominantly heavily peated with the 10 year-old falling in the ‘smoky and light’ category
  • Current capacity is 2.80m litres p.a.
  • Core product range comprises the Ardbeg 10,, Uiegedail (influenced by sherry casks) and Corryvreckan (matured in mix of ex-bourbon American oak and French new oak).
  • Distillery tours are available. There is also an on-site restaurant for visitors.
  • Location is 3.5 miles east of Port Ellen.

Ardbeg Distillery with corporate logo

Whisky Casks at Ardbeg Distillery, Islay.

Ardbeg Single Malts

 For more information on the Scotch whisky industry and visiting Scotland generally please refer Visitors' Guide to Scotland. The ISBN of this book is 978-1-9161332-0-4. Also available via Kindle.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more