Region:
Established:
Water Source:
Owner:
Distillery Status:
Open To Visitors:
Phone Number: |
Islay
Near Port Ellen
1815
Loch Uigeadail
Glenmorangie PLC
Operational
Yes
+44 (0)1496 302244
(Call for visiting hours) |
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Ardbeg Distillery is on the southern edge of the island of Islay, surrounded by treacherous
seas and battered by strong winds, all of which add to the character of this
malt.
The distillery in its
current form was founded by the
MacDougall family back in 1815(with John MacDougall
being the most prominent). The
distillery was mothballed for most of
the 1980's and suffered from an
uncertain future until it was purchased
and reopened by The Glenmorangie Company
in 1997 which saved the Distillery from
extinction. The Glenmorangie Company have since invested heavily both in the
distillery and the marketing of the
Ardbeg malt and the Distillery has risen
like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well
established as a niche, cult malt, with
a passionate following. The legacy of
the whisky was safeguarded by the
formation of ‘The Committee’ in 2000
from thousands of Ardbeg followers
across the globe keen to ensure, the
doors of Ardbeg never close again.
Ardbeg Whisky is one of the heaviest and peatiest
single malts that you are ever likely to
encounter. A ferociously phenolic dram
which retains an impressive finesse.
Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is
renowned for its delicious sweetness, a
phenomenon that has affectionately
become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.
Excellent and exciting when young,
endlessly complex and stimulating when
bottled old. Ardbeg is a mighty malt and
increasingly popular with collectors and
auctioneers.
Since reopening Ardbeg has been voted
‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years
in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
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Ardbeg Tasting Notes
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 Ardbeg Single Islay Malt stands alone as the most delicate and complex of all the Islay malts. Its strength is that it does not flaunt the peat; rather it gives way to the malt, the natural sweetness of which subtly intrudes and produces the perfect balance.
And balance is the key. All Islay malts are special, but only Ardbeg has achieved such effortless harmony which sets it apart from the rest.
Ardbeg 10 Year Old
Light gold
in colour. At full strength, the aroma is a beguiling mix of toffee and chocolate sweetness, cinnamon spice and medicinal phenols. Fresh citrus and floral notes of white wine are evident, as are melon, pear drops and a gentle creaminess. There is also a fresh phenolic aroma of seaspray
(iodine) and smoked fish. Hickory and
coffee emerge later as the most volatile
top notes fade.
The taste is initially a
moderate and clean sweetness is rapidly
followed by a mouthful of deep peat
notes, with tobacco smoke and strong
espresso coffee, which then gives way to
treacle sweetness and liquorice. The mouthfeel is firstly lightly spiced, then chewing, mouth watering
and full, finally drying.
The finish is
long and smoky. A smoky sweetness is
left on the palate, with a crushed peat
and sweet malted cereal character.
Similar
Tasting Whisky Suggestions
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Where To Buy Ardbeg Whisky Online
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Select a country for a list
Whisky shops near
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Ardbeg Bottlings
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Ardbeg offer you the following choice
of single malts:
- 10 Year Old Single Malt.
- 6 Year Old Single Malt Very
Young.
- Ardbeg Uigeadail Traditional Strength.
- 15 Year Old Black Label.
- 30 Year Old Black Label.
Ardbeg Committee 21 Year Old
Limited Edition.
- 1976 25 Year Old Sherry
Cask
- 1975 24 Year Old Sherry
Hogshead
- 1974 28 Year Old Oak
Barrel
- 1973 31 Year Old Bourbon
Hogshead Cask
- There are many more Ardbeg
Single Malt bottlings available
including many independent bottings.
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Ardbeg Reviews
|
Have you tried Ardbeg? Why not add
your own review and tasting notes to
this page.
ADD YOUR OWN REVIEW
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