Ardnahoe Whisky Distillery
Being the newest of the now nine distilleries on Islay, Ardnahoe Distillery opened in Spring 2019 and is the newest distillery to have opened on Islay for 15 years. A family-owned company, led by Stewart Laign and both his sons, Scott and Andrew saw its vision standing in a field in 2015. A dream, determination, passion and grit saw Ardnahoe come to fruition and become part of the Islay whisky family.
What makes Ardnahoe special
Ardnahoe is Gaelic for “Height of the Hollow” and Loch Ardnahoe is where the water comes from, hence the name. Loch Ardnahoe boasts ‘exceptionally soft water’ so things get off to a good start. From here it goes through the whisky-making process ending up at the ‘Worm Tubs’. Now this is the interesting bit. Ardnahoe uses an old and dying out distillation method using these ‘Worm Tubs’ prior to being casked and matured. At this stage (which is a slow one) vapour is allowed to condense slowly and gradually, thus adding other additional qualities to whisky. Ardnahoe believes the time this adds is worth it and is apparent when you enjoy some Ardnahoe whisky. So why not try some as it’s what makes Ardnahoe special?
Book Your StayTours and Tastings
If this has got you curious then you can head along and visit the distillery for yourself. Ardnahoe offers tours and tastings. If you are a family and have young children you can take part in ‘The Spirit of Ardnahoe Tour’. Lasting an hour you will learn all about this whisky and the ‘Worm Tubs’. And for adults only you can enjoy the ‘Warehouse No.1 Tasting Experience’ a 90minute experience where you will enjoy drams of Ardnahoe Whisky from four different casks. Finally, the ‘Ultimate Ardnahoe Experience ~ tour & warehouse tasting’ (adult only) is two hours of fun! Here you enjoy a tour of the distillery and a tasting of four casks exclusive to this experience. All tours and tastings are available to book on their website.
Visitor Centre and more…
Ardnahoe has a lovely visitor centre with spectacular views to enjoy. Here there is a shop, and a licensed whisky bar selling a host of whisky. And if you are the driver, do not fear, Barista-style coffee, tea and soft drinks are also available. Check for opening times prior to visiting. Additionally, you can see Ardnahoe’s Accessibility Guide. Furthermore, there is a guide on how to get to Ardnahoe so you can plan your visit in advance and if you want to enjoy a drink get a list of taxi services.
A holiday with us at Islay Cottages is not complete without experiencing the island’s whisky. So why not head along to Ardnahoe and experience our newest whisky addition? If you want to know more or book a stay with us then please get in touch with us today.
Book Your StayEverything was to a good standard, the beds were comfortable and the wi-fi connection was more than adequate for such a remote location (we didn’t use the TV/DVD). The living room and kitchen area is perfect for relaxing in the evenings, and you’ll be amazed at the quiet ! If your idea of the perfect holiday is getting out into the wilds and exploring miles of unspoilt beauty, this is the place for you. I am certain it is popular with walkers, but you can also do many exciting trips by car (which you’ll need anyway to get around !). Some of the roads do get a bit funky in places, and it’s largely single track with passing places, but you soon get used to this, and the courtesy between drivers is generally a joy to experience.
The Kilchoman cottages are near three absolutely stunning beaches, all within 4/5 miles: Machir Bay, Saligo Bay and Sanaigmore, it was impossible to choose between them, but we visited each one at least twice. Perhaps the most scenic beaches we’ve ever seen, with beautiful rock formations, white sand and totally unspoilt (and indeed generally deserted !)
There’s also the possibility to take a day trip over to the nearby island of Jura, the famous `paps’ (mountains) add a stunning back drop to so many places on Islay. It is a photographer’s dream. Life is simpler here, and in many ways it had not changed at all for me since 1972 ! A lifetime dream fulfilled to come back here, and I wasn’t disappointed ! We were very very lucky with the weather, which does help, and on a good day I wouldn’t hesitate to call it paradise.
Handy hints: Take plenty of basic provisions with you, but the Co-op in Bowmore is up to modern standards for most of your needs, we only needed a couple of trips there to restock in two weeks. If you’re big on nightlife and bustle, give it a miss…but if you love nature, beauty and fresh air….it can’t be beaten.
