1815-2026
A rollercoaster history
Ardbeg has survived against the odds through a rollercoaster history since 1815 and continue to be an active part of the Islay community.
1815
Ardbeg distillery is founded
John Macdougall takes out a licence, establishing Ardbeg Distillery as a legitimate commercial concern.
1815
Ardbeg distillery is founded
John Macdougall takes out a licence, establishing Ardbeg Distillery as a legitimate commercial concern.
1838
A New Owner
Thomas Buchanan, a Glasgow spirit merchant, buys the Distillery for £1,800. John Macdougall’s son Alexander continues to manage operations.
1853
Alexander Macdougall dies
After his death, Ardbeg is co-run by Colin Hay and Macdougall’s sisters, Margaret and Flora, who may rightfully be Scotland’s first female distillers.
1853
Alexander Macdougall dies
After his death, Ardbeg is co-run by Colin Hay and Macdougall’s sisters, Margaret and Flora, who may rightfully be Scotland’s first female distillers.
1887
Output tops 1.1 million litres a year
In his book ‘The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom’, Alfred Barnard records that Ardbeg is producing 250,000 gallons (1.1 million litres) of whisky a year, making it the most productive distillery on Islay.
1911
The name 'Ardbeg' is registered as a trademark
The distinctive letter ‘A’ is also registered to protect Ardbeg’s brand and reputation.
1922
Alexander Macdougall & Co Ltd buys Ardbeg for £19,000
1977
Hiram Walker ACQUIRES Ardbeg
1981
Production dwindles to nothing
The distillery closes with the loss of 18 jobs and a devastating effect on the local community.
1987
Allied Lyons acquires Hiram Walker and therefore Ardbeg
Two years later, small-scale distilling resumes to satisfy demand for Ardbeg from blenders.
1997
The Glenmorangie Company purchases the distillery
After the second closure in 1991, the Distillery reopens in 1997. Full-time production commences, with the first bottlings comprising 17 Years Old, 1978 Vintage and Ardbeg Provenance.
1997
The Glenmorangie Company purchases the distillery
After the second closure in 1991, the Distillery reopens in 1997. Full-time production commences, with the first bottlings comprising 17 Years Old, 1978 Vintage and Ardbeg Provenance.
2000
Ardbeg Ten Years Old launches and the Committee IS FORMED
The extraordinary balance of peaty power and floral sweetness makes it a big hit and the core expression in the Ardbeg range. PLUS the worldwide Ardbeg Committee is formed to ensure ‘the doors of the Distillery never close again’.
2000
Ardbeg Ten Years Old and Ardbeg Committee launches
The extraordinary balance of peaty power and floral sweetness makes it a big hit and the core expression in the Ardbeg range. PLUS the worldwide Ardbeg Committee is formed to ensure ‘the doors of the Distillery never close again’.
2007
Michael Heads becomes Ardbeg's 20th Manager and Chairman of the Ardbeg Committee
2011
The tale of the "Islay-Gator"
"Alligator char" American Oak casks and a smoky, spicy flavour ensure Ardbeg Alligator is snapped up by the Committee.
2012
Galileo - watch this space
To celebrate our historic space experiment, we launch Ardbeg Galileo. 60,000 bottles sell out within 48 hours.
2012
THE FIRST EVER ARDBEG DAY
We celebrated the first ever Ardbeg Day by holding the ‘Islay-limpics’.
2013
Ardbeg Tractour - torque about powerful
8.6 litres and 100mph of pure, supercharged V8 fury, our custom-built Massey Ferguson tractor toured the world.
2014
The Ardbeg space experiment comes home
The world’s first whisky experiment in space touched down in Kazakhstan, on 12th September 2014. The answers to the mysteries of maturation and the universe were imminent. Ardbeg Supernova 2014 took off.
2014
The Ardbeg space experiment comes home
The world’s first whisky experiment in space touched down in Kazakhstan, on 12th September 2014. The answers to the mysteries of maturation and the universe were imminent. Ardbeg Supernova 2014 took off.
2015
200 years of Ardbeg
Instead of looking backwards for Ardbeg’s bicentenary, we looked 200 years into the future. Ardbeg Perpetuum launched.
2012
Galileo - watch this space
To celebrate our ongoing and historic space experiment, we launch Ardbeg Galileo. 60,000 bottles sell out within 48 hours. PLUS we celebrated the first ever Ardbeg Day by holding not the Olympics, but the ‘Islay-limpics’.
2020
Ardbeg bids farewell to Mickey Heads and welcomes successor, Colin Gordon
After 13 whisky-filled years at the helm, Micky Heads retires and passes the hydrometer and high-vis jacket over to Colin Gordon, Ardbeg's new Distillery Manager.
2021
Two becomes four
Ardbeg's new stillhouse is completed in March 2021 – doubling capacity from two stills to four (watch the timelapse video on YouTube).
2022
One-of-a-kind 1975 cask sells for record £16 million
An extraordinary milestone in Ardbeg’s 200-year history, Ardbeg 'Cask No. 3’ is the oldest ever released by Ardbeg. To recognise the contribution generations of Distillery workers made to produce and protect it, £1 million is donated to community causes and projects on Islay.
2025
Ardbeg bids farewell to JACKIE thomson & welcomes new committee co-chairs
A mainstay at Ardbeg since its revival, Jackie served as Distillery Centre Manager for 27 years, and Committee Chair for 4 years. Jackie passes the smoky torch to Distillery Manager Bryony McNiven, an Islay native, and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald who become Ardbeg's Committee Co-chairs.
2026
Ardbeg bids farewell to COLIN GORDON and welcomes successor, BRYONY MCNIVEN
Ardbeg’s very own Bryony McNiven is the Islay malt whisky’s next Distillery Manager – the first woman in the modern age to take command of the stills. An Islay native and the daughter of an Ardbeg stillman, Bryony follows in the footsteps of two legendary sisters who led the Distillery nearly 200 years ago.