Rare and selected Ardbeg Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

The distillery Ardbeg has its headquarters on the idyllic south coast on the Hebridean island of Islay near Port Ellen and the home of peat-smoked strong Scotch whiskys. The origins of the distillery Ardbeg date back to the year 1794th At this time Ardbeg was operated by black burners and smugglers, until they had to give up after a raid by the tax authorities in the production of illegality. The legal distillery was probably in 1815, by John McDougall under the name Ardbeg (from Scottish Gaelic ard bheag - small hill) and founded the same year as Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Since 1817, the operation is documented and the distillery was located until 1959 in family ownership. In 1977 the company was taken over and operated by Allied Distillers entirely by Hiram Walker (Allied Lyons). After a period of closure (from March 1981) Ardbeg was then reopened in November 1989, but now without its own malt house with three malt kilns. After a further closure in July 1996 Ardbeg was finally in February 1997 at McDonald and Muir (Glenmorangie, Glen Moray) and is since 25 June of the same year and a renovation of the distillery again. In October 2004, Glenmorangie plc (successor of McDonald and Muir) and thus also to Ardbeg LVMH (LVMH) has been sold.
The water from the distillery comes from the Loch Arinambeast and Loch Uigeadail. The malt used, originating from the Port Ellen Maltings has a phenol content of 56.2 ppm. Ardbeg has a mash tun (mash do) of 4.5 tonnes of stainless steel and six fermentation tanks (wash-backs), three from larch and three douglas-fir, each 23,500 liters. is distilled with steam heated indoor pans in a 18,279 liter wash still - which is filled with only 11,775 liters - and a 16,957 liter spirit still - which is filled with only 13,660 liters. The emissions produced or whiskey is about 950,000 liters per year. Typical of the Ardbeg Scotch Whisky is the strong share of smoke and peat, but also a very clear note, reminiscent of medicine, conditionally, making by the comparatively very high phenol content it a strong and smoky Islay malt whisky. There is also a characteristic of Ardbeg citrus. Among lovers the Islay whiskys from Ardbeg enjoy now almost cult status. Although since the reopening of the distillery continuously new whisky is produced, especially the older vintages before 1989 and Single Cask versions and the limited special bottlings smaller circulation in great demand by collectors and are highly sought after.