The Whiskey Reviewer A World of Whiskey, Poured Every Weekday
Famous for it’s peat smoke and sea spray influenced whiskies, Islay has long been the object of romance for many a single malt fan. As a result, the island has become home to Scotch Whisky’s strongest regional identity and the industry’s densest concentration of distilleries. That concentration grew thicker today, as Ardnahoe Distillery went operational. It’s been 15 years since a new distillery opened on Islay, and Ardnahoe becomes the ninth working distillery on the island.
Ardnahoe is the result of longtime independent bottlers Hunter Laing & Company to get into making whisky themselves. The family-run company invested some £12 million into their new plant and hired Jim McEwan of Bowmore and Bruichladdich fame as Master Distiller.
Under British law (and EU regulations, although those won’t matter if/when Brexit happens), it will be three years before even a minimally aged whisky is released from Ardnahoe. In the meantime, the distillery will attract visitors to a scenic location that enjoys sweeping views of the Sound of Islay and the neighboring island of Jura.
