THE WHISKY

Single Malt Whisky '10 Years' by Ardberg is distilled on the island of Islay, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides, between Ireland and Scotland. Ardberg is said to use the island’s most peaty malted barley from Port Ellen and the water used is that of Lake Uigeadail. Long fermentation in washbacks made of Oregon pines, while aging takes place in ex-Bourbon oak barrels. Extraordinary complexity and aromatic richness, accompanied by a decidedly rich and very broad taste, strongly peaty, with aromas of citrus, coffee and licorice. The aftertaste is very persistent, smoky and savory. A great piece of Scotland in the glass.

THE DISTILLERY

Officially active since the mid-first decade of the nineteenth century, since 1815 to be precise, the Ardbeg distillery, located in the heart of the island of Islay, was founded by John McDougall, and has gone through a history of a thousand vicissitudes over the years, similar to that of many other distilleries, dictated by changes in ownership, sudden and lasting closures, and above all characterized by numerous adversities. As early as 1835, in fact, there was the first change of ownership, for which the distillery was bought by the Glasgow merchant Thomas Buchanan, even if John McDougal himself and his son continued to manage the company, which in the late 1970s in 1800, in 1877 to be exact, he was traveling in waters that were so prosperous as to give work to almost a third of the inhabitants of the island of Islay. In 1981, however, the trend was the opposite, and thanks to the widespread economic crisis, the company is unable to keep its doors open, and is forced to cease all types of activities. Repurchased in 1987 by Hiram Walker, it was only two years later, in 1989, that the distillery returned to production, albeit on a very small scale, and then went through another period of closure, between 1991 and 1997. Today the distillery is owned by the LVMH Group, which has the merit of having given back a lot of hope and confidence to the lovers of this product. The labels on the market, currently, are all characterized by the same desire for tradition that prompted the distillery to bottle without any cold filtration. Historic stills are still used for distillation, and the choice of water is meticulously taken care of. Currently considered as one of the most modern and technologically advanced distilleries, today Ardbeg can be easily defined as a cult brand, made for those who want to rediscover the classic peaty taste decided in an Islay single malt whiskey.