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Ardbeg to
celebrate 200 years with "Artbeg", an
art exhibition which captures the worlds
peatiest whisky's untamed spirit.
200 years of Ardbeg whisky are to be
celebrated in an exhibition which
captures the untamed spirit of the
world’s smokiest, peatiest single malt.
Artbeg, which draws on the Distillery’s
past, present and future, comprises a
series of complex, layered artworks that
evoke the intriguing heritage and
unorthodox personality of Ardbeg and its
homeland, the small Scottish island of
Islay.
The Artbeg exhibition (to be revealed on
Monday 25 May), which can be viewed on
the walls of the Distillery and on
www.ardbeg.com, marks Ardbeg Day (30
May), a global, annual celebration of
all things Ardbeg. This year’s
festivities, themed “Past, Present and
Future”, are particularly special,
celebrating the Distillery’s 200th
anniversary.
Artbeg consists of 20 inspiring digital
collages created by photographer Peter
Heaton, himself an ardent fan of Ardbeg
single malt. Heaton found inspiration
for his unusual works on a visit to
Islay in 2014. By layering photographs
of the Distillery and surroundings with
material from Ardbeg’s archives, his
exhibits encourage the viewer to take a
deeper look at the single malt’s
heritage and island home.
In one work a striking image of the 9th
Century Kildalton Cross, which stands
near the Distillery, is layered with a
vintage map of Islay and a press
clipping alluding to Ardbeg’s
renaissance in 1997. In another, the
buildings of Ardbeg appear to rise out
of archived, handwritten letters sent to
the Distillery, as the artist engages
with the whisky’s past and present,
while hinting at its future.
The exhibition will be displayed on the
outer wall of the Distillery’s West
Maltings building and a selection of
works will also feature on
www.ardbeg.com. Distillery visitors will
be able to share their impressions of
the Distillery on the website by
uploading their own photographs.
Peter Heaton said: "I have always had a
fascination with Islay and its single
malts, particularly Ardbeg. The
exhibition interprets the Distillery
over time and I wanted to create
layered, complex imagery which would
encourage people to give the work some
time and think about the theme of past,
present and future."
Mickey Heads, award-winning Ardbeg
Distillery Manager, said: "This
exhibition provides an intriguing twist
on the story of Ardbeg – and contains
more than a few surprises. The
complexity of these remarkable images
makes you stop and think about the
whisky’s heritage and its future".
Also to mark the distillery's 200th
anniversay Ardbeg will be releasing the
outstanding classic peaty Ardbeg limited
release whisky,
Ardbeg Perpetuum (see my tasting note
below), which will be available to
purchase from 30th May 2015 at Ardbeg
Embassies including
The Whisky Exchange for a two
week exclusive period. From June 13th,
Perpetuum will be available at Ardbeg
Embassies, Whisky specialists and
department stores with a RSP of £84.99.
Ardbeg Perpetuum is non-chill filtered
and is bottled at 47.4% ABV.
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