Ardbeg Kelpie

A special committee release for Fèis Ìle 2019. This is Ardbeg whisky aged in virgin casks made from oak grown, felled and seasoned by the black sea and ex-bourbon barrels.

Ardbeg

An Islay distillery dripping in history, distillation is said to have taken place on the site since the late 1700’s. Located on the southern shores of Islay right next to Laphroaig and Lagavulin, Ardbeg is known for its exceptionally peaty, double distilled style of whisky production. Ardbeg spent much of its early life supplying peated malt for blends until the 1920s when the economic depression hit and the market struggled. As demand resurged in the 60’s and 70’s the distillery switched to using peated malt from the Port Ellen maltings instead of using their own malted barley. Hiram Walker took full control of Ardbeg in 1979 and finding blends were once again unfashionable, ordered an unpeated expression of Ardbeg be made called Kildalton. This would not last long with the distillery closing in 1981, only to be reopened in 1989. Production was very minimal between 1989 and 1996 before it was once again closed. Only a year later the distillery would be saved by Glenmorangie who acquired the distillery and would then themselves be acquired by Louis Vuitton Moet Hennesey.

Ardbeg produces an arguably large amount of whisky each year considering that up until 2021 it had only 1 wash still and 1 spirit still. Previous output was approximately 1 million litres per year, but with the expansion finished in 2021 has been improved to 2.3 million. For many years Ardbeg utilised its tiny amount of older stocks to release a few age stated releases but it wasn't until 2008 when they were finally able to produce their core product that is the Ardbeg Ten. Perhaps one of the most notable parts of the distillery’s history is the Ardbeg committee, a group anyone could join and purchase limited and exclusive bottlings. The committee bottlings have employed everything from very young malt, different cask types and heavily charred casks as well. The demand for these older committee bottlings have surged throughout the last few years with collectors seeking out the original releases.