Discover the Story of One of Islays Most Famous Whisky Distilleries

Whiskey lovers probably already know that Islay is soon to be immersed in the spirit of Fèis Ìle 2024 for several days. This week in Distillery Thursday, we're travelling to Islay to take a deep dive into the history of a renowned whiskey maker. Step aboard the ferry with us and explore the origins of Ardbeg Distillery.

Whiskey has been diligently distilled on Islay for centuries. While this has been happening legally for many years, this wasn’t always the case on the Scottish island. In the southeast of Islay, lies a distillery that has delighted many whiskey enthusiasts with its beverages: Ardbeg Distillery.

Ardbeg's story begins in 1798, when whiskey was distilled on a very small scale. At that time, Ardbeg was not a commercial distillery yet, but that changes when John Macdougall obtained a license in 1815. At that moment, Islay was booming.

A small community can be found on the island, with a few homes, a school, and some other facilities. Whiskey is a popular drink. There is a global demand for the liquid, which is often used in blends.

Some years after its establishment, Thomas Buchanan decides to buy the Ardbeg Distillery. He pays 1800 pounds for the distillery and hires Alexander Macdougall, the founder's son. He runs Ardbeg Distillery until his death in 1853.

After Ardbeg is taken over by Colin Hay and Macdougall's sisters, Margaret and Flora. They are perhaps the first female distillers, according to Ardbeg. The ladies distil with great success, as Ardbeg's whisky production significantly increases.

According to the book The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, the Islay distillery even manages to produce 1.1 million liters of whisky per year by 1887. The distillery is profitable under the leadership of Hay and the Macdougalls. However, tough times are on the horizon.

The economic depression in 1920 throws a wrench in the works. Demand for the divine drink decreases severely due to the war. Many distilleries find it challenging to stay afloat, including Ardbeg.

This period also marks the end of the Hay era when Alexander MacDougall & Co Ltd. take over the distillery in 1922. A few years later, in 1959, Hiram Walker, the Canadian, approaches the distillery. He wants to buy a minority share, like the Distillers Company Limited (DCL).

In the years that follow, peated whisky- the style that Ardbeg Distillery distils its divine drink, gradually becomes popular again. As a result, the stills at the Islay distillery can be fired up once more, and increasing amounts of heavenly drink are produced. Eventually, the demand for peated malt is so high that Ardbeg must source malt from other places, such as Port Ellen.

The world's need for peated whisky is a good sign, but it is not a good development that Ardbeg is losing its character by using malt from elsewhere. The style of the whisky is different, and that does not go down well everywhere.

Between 1977 and 1979, Hiram Walker decides to buy the Ardbeg Distillery. He purchases DCL's share, which by now has grown to 50 percent, and also manages to buy the remaining shares in the distillery. Whether that's a good purchase is doubtful, as a few years later, the lights go out at the distillery.

The stills fall silent, not a drop of spirit is being distilled, and the peat remains underground. This happens in 1981.

Ardbeg Distillery's façade on Islay's coast seems abandoned. Luckily, this doesn't last long, although it proves challenging for the distillery to get back into permanent production. In 1987 the stills are fired up briefly for small-scale production, but it does not last.

Finally, in 1997 The Glenmorangie Company proposes to buy the distillery and old whisky stocks for 7 million pounds. The aim of Glenmorangie is to completely re-establish the distillery. Hence, Ardbeg officially becomes part of Glenmorangie. It also means that the distillery is 35 percent owned by Diageo.

Glenmorangie starts a major renovation at Ardbeg. Among other things, a new visitor center is built, where whiskey enthusiasts can visit. Furthermore, a café is opened at the distillery. Meanwhile, the stock is bottled, with the first Ardbeg with an age statement being released: a 17-year-old Ardbeg.

The arrival of The Glenmorangie Company quickly turns out to be the breath of fresh air that Ardbeg needed. The distillery attracts 3500 visitors, and whisky production increases to 600,000 liters per year within two years. Ardbeg is also named distillery of the year.

In the following years, Ardbeg flourishes remarkably. Under the guidance of Glenmorangie, the Ardbeg Committee is formed. This group's mission is to ensure the stills at the distillery never cease operation, and the lights never go out. Heading the Ardbeg Committee is Mickey Heads, who also assumes the role of Distillery Manager in 2007.

The distillery also introduces a variety of expressions such as the Ardbeg 10 Years Old, Lord of the Isles, and Ardbeg Uigeadail. Apart from these, a unique blend emerges. Allegedly, there was a minor mishap at Ardbeg, resulting from someone mistakingly pulling the wrong lever.

This mix-up resulted in Ardbeg whisky being mixed with a little Glen Moray. The label on the bottle reads "Ardbeg Serendipity." It’s one of the expressions that already hints at the new face of Islay. Ardbeg Distillery has once again put itself on the map, releasing one playful yet peaty whisky after another.

Whilst the distillery continues to impress with a variety of creative expressions, the pinnacle is yet to come. The brand is just hitting its stride. A new Ardbeg Committee Release is revealed in a playful fashion. The single malt whisky, aged in Alligator charred barrels, is aptly named Ardbeg Alligator.

A poster depicts a dark body of water whereby the tops of two Ardbeg bottles form the nostrils of an alligator. A little further into the water, two other bottles emerge with their bottoms poking out of the surface, as if they were the creature's eyes.

The southwest of Islay continues to emanate the scent of peated whisky while Ardbeg steadily grows. In February 2018, plans are revealed for a significant expansion of Ardbeg. The two stills are working overtime and the demand for new equipment grows urgent.

A new stillhouse is built, housing not just two pot stills, but four. The existing boilerhouse is remodeled to accommodate new washbacks. The whole process takes precisely two years and 144 days to complete in 2021.

For distillery manager Heads, the new additions come just a touch too late. He steps down in 2020, passing the distillery manager torch to Colin Gordon. Heads does, however, experience the whimsical release of one of the most iconic Ardbeg expressions: Wee Beastie.

The whisky is brought to life in a grand unveiling video that mirrors the revival of Frankenstein's monster. The distillery manager also features in the trailer for the five-year-old expression, which you can see through this link.

These days, Ardbeg Distillery isn't just about whisky, but about building a complete universe around it. There's a comic book series called Planet Ardbeg that spins intriguing tales around their peated expressions.

Moreover, there's ongoing work on Ardbeg House. It's a hotel in Port Ellen, where whisky aficionados will be able to book a room from 2025. The hotel will feature eleven rooms that brilliantly narrate the tales of Ardbeg and Islay. There will also be a bar where a variety of whiskies can be sampled, and Islay meals can be enjoyed. An exclusive whisky cave, equipped with Ardbeg artifacts and curiosities, is in the works for Ardbeg Committee members.

Like many other distilleries, a tour of the Islay establishment is also available. You can find more information on Ardbeg's website.

And when you visit the distillery. Mavbe, you will have the chance to talk to the new distillery manager. Fir the first time in 200 years there is a female distillery manager, Bryony McNiven.

Photo: Ardbeg Distillery