Manu's Whiskybar Residence in Bilbao: Home to Vintage Ardbeg Releases Like 'Lord of the Isles'

Tuesday, 21 October 2025 at 12:12

Located in Bilbao is the whisky bar Residence. The bar was established by Manu Iturregi, a genuine whisky enthusiast. We recently visited him, as you might have seen on our Instagram profile. And now, an interview with this enterprising man follows. Stop by when you're in Bilbao!

How was Whisky Live Paris? What discoveries did you make?

Whisky Live Paris was an phenomenal experience. Working at the Basque Moonshiners booth was fabulous as we noticed an enormous interest from visitors in our whiskies. Plus, I had the opportunity to taste new whiskies from France, Italy, China, and the United States. These are whiskies that are difficult to find in the Spanish market. And naturally, there were also spectacular new releases from classic brands such as Laphroaig and Elixir!

How did your passion for whisky begin?

I've always felt strongly connected to the Celtic countries — Scotland and Ireland — and their culture and music. Their national drink, of course, went hand in hand with that. When I started tasting different whiskies and worked as a bartender, I discovered a vast world of aromas and flavors, both for use in cocktails and for straight tasting. I began to study, taste, and discover new brands. What started as work or a hobby has since, as you say, genuinely become my passion.

When was the bar established?

Residence was founded in 2003. We started as a type of Irish pub. My idea was to open a place where I would gladly drink myself, one with a pleasant ambiance and live music. Over the past 22 years, the bar has evolved significantly and grown into a reputable whisky and cocktail bar.

How many whisky bars are in Bilbao?

Residence is probably the city's only genuine whisky bar, but there are a few other pubs with an excellent selection of whisky. I'd recommend La Antigua Cigarrería, Fiero, Dike1, La Mula de Moscú... and several restaurants like Porrue.

Where does the name come from?

Actually it's quite amusing. The former owner called his bar Residence; it was a type of chill-out bar and he was a DJ. So it was literally "the residence of the resident dj", hahaha. I thought it was a fun name for my bar and decided to keep it.

How would you describe the whisky culture here compared to other countries?

In Bilbao, there used to be a robust whisky culture, closely connected with the port and maritime industry. The older generations drank much whisky. Then rum and gin became more popular in pubs and nightlife. Nowadays, interest in whisky is growing again, mainly among younger customers who have fewer prejudices and are more open to new producers and brands.

What's the best-selling whisky in your bar?

Ardbeg. We've been an official Ardbeg Embassy since 2010, so our Arbeggians are loyal drinkers.

Is there anything unique on the menu?

We have old Ardbeg releases like Lord of the Isles (1978 edition), the old 17 Year Old, and all the new limited editions. As well as a lovely collection from The Macallan and Suntory, plus a vast range of old The Glenrothes vintages. As you would expect, we have all the expressions from Basque Moonshiners, since I've collaborated with them from the start. We also have a special bottling from Berry Bros. & Rudd from 2018, to celebrate the bar's 15th anniversary — a full cask bottling of Highland Park, aged in a refill Oloroso hogshead.

Do you also do something with whisky cocktails?

Absolutely. We try to make whisky more accessible to our customers, and cocktails are a perfect way to do that. In addition to classics such as the Manhattan, Old Fashioned, and Rob Roy, we also create variants from the "sour" family like the Whiskey Sour, Penicillin, The Lion’s Tale, and fruitier mixes. These are ideal for people who want to discover whisky, but perhaps are still a little hesitant to drink it straight.

What else do you do here with whisky?

We've been hosting whisky tastings at Residence for many years. From 2007 to 2012, I also hosted a small whisky fair called Grain Bilbao. In 2023, we opened EDARI (edaribilbao.com), a "liquid room" where we hold cocktail courses and our whisky tastings, usually twice a month. Last year, we also started Bilbao Whisky Topaketa, a whisky and culture festival with a showroom, different tastings, culinary experiences, live music, and a cocktail route through Bilbao.

How important is whisky for Spaniards?

Whisky is still one of the top-selling spirits in Spain, even though a majority of the consumption still comes from standard blends used in mixed drinks. Nonetheless, interest has been growing strongly over the past few years, particularly among younger generations.

People like Emma Briones (todowhisky.es) have played a significant role in this, as well as the opening of new top-tier bars like La Whiskería (Barcelona) and Holy Drop (Madrid). Classical cocktail bars with a robust whisky list, such as Ideal (Barcelona), 1862 DryBar, and Angelita (Madrid), also contribute to this. Additionally, there are unique concepts like DonPankoKatsu (a Japanese restaurant with a vast selection of Japanese whiskies) and bars with extensive collections like Vafer (Zamora) and El Museo del Whisky (San Sebastián).

What's on your bucket list?

A trip to the distilleries on the Orkney Islands and the Hebrides.

Thank you for your time. Finally, what are your future plans?

Just to continue with Residence and Bilbao Whisky Topaketa… And in 2026, I'll be turning 50, so I'm arranging a unique line-up for a special tasting with friends.