Located on Islay’s southern coast, Ardbeg Distillery was founded by John MacDougall in 1815, and has since weathered numerous challenges to become one of the most celebrated names in scotch whisky. The distillery’s rich history and phoenix-like revival make it one of the most fascinating stories in the world of spirits.

The Early Years and First Closure

The MacDougall family retained connections with Ardbeg until the 1970s. Alexander MacDougall & Co privately owned Ardbeg until the company’s liquidation in 1959, when Ardbeg Distillery Ltd was founded. In 1973, Distillers Company Limited and Hiram Walker jointly purchased the distillery forming the Ardbeg Distillery Trust; Hiram Walker acquired full control in 1976, buying out DCL for £300,000.

Ardbeg Distillery closed on March 25th, 1981, a victim of the 1980s ‘Whisky Loch‘. In 1987, Allied Distillers purchased the distillery resuming limited production from 1989 – Ardbeg operated only two months each year until 1996. As Allied Distillers also owned the Laphroaig Distillery, Ardbeg was regarded as surplus to requirements, and allowed to fall into disrepair with much of the distilling equipment removed to provide spare parts for Laphroaig. In 1996, Allied Distillers closed Ardbeg offering the distillery for sale.

The Modern Renaissance

Ardbeg’s revival began in 1997 when the distillery and whisky stock were purchased by Glenmorangie for £7 million. The earliest releases from Glenmorangie’s re-established Ardbeg brand were bottled from existing maturing old whisky stock, with a 17 Year Old inaugural release quickly earning Ardbeg Distillery cult status amongst whisky drinkers.

On the 1st of January 2000, the Ardbeg Committee – a worldwide group of fans and enthusiasts – was officially founded, promoting knowledge and enjoyment of Ardbeg and with the aim of ensuring the Ardbeg distillery never closes again. In 2018, Ardbeg began a distillery refurbishment and construction of a new still house, increasing the plant’s maximum production capacity to 2,400,000 liters of whisky a year.

Ardbeg’s Award-Winning Expressions

Originally launched in 2000, the Ardbeg 10 Year Old matured in a mix of first and re-fill bourbon casks creating the basis for the brand’s modern core range. In 2003, the cask strength ‘Uigeadail’, named for Ardbeg’s water source Loch Uigeadail, which marries bourbon and sherry casks to balance sweet and savory notes was released.

The cask strength ‘Corryvreckan’ combines bourbon and French oak casks, resulting in a particularly medicinal style expression released in 2008. Launched in 2017, ‘An Oa’ shows the approachable side of Ardbeg’s whisky with rounded sweet notes by marrying Pedro Ximénez ex-sherry, charred virgin oak, and bourbon casks. In 2020, Ardbeg’s ‘Wee Beastie’ 5 Year Old was launched, a bottling emphasizing peaty smoke, balanced by bourbon and Oloroso ex-sherry casks.

Ardbeg’s whisky has won various awards at international spirits competitions including the International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge. One of the most awarded expressions, Ardbeg ‘Uigeadail’ was named ‘Whisky of the Year’ by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2009 and 2010, with the expression gaining three double gold, four gold, and two silver medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition between 2006 and 2022. Ardbeg ‘Corryvreckan’ was named as both the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ and ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ at the World Whisky Awards 2010.

Alongside the brand’s core range, Ardbeg Distillery also releases a series of annual limited editions and Committee exclusive bottlings, helping to maintain its cult status and dedicated following among whisky connoisseurs worldwide.

Read the full article at The Remarkable History and Revival of Ardbeg Distillery