Ardnahoe Releases Inaugural 5 Year Old Whisky
This year, 2024, Ardnahoe’s first-ever single malt whisky will be released for sale for the first time to the public. The distillery was built in 2018 and production began in October of that same year.
According to the distillery, Ardnahoe Inaugural Release 5 Year Old is a blend of whiskies aged in ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The youngest whisky in the blend was distilled in March 2019, thus the 5-year age statement.
As expected, Islay’s reputation for producing high-quality peated whiskies is reflected in Ardnahoe’s phenol content of 40 ppm. Peated loch water gives this coastal drink a subtle smokiness
Ardnahoe Releases Inaugural 5 Year Old Whisky
Stewart Laing, Managing Director at Hunter Laing & Co. said: “Building our own distillery was a hugely important and long dreamed of step and it’s been a personal ambition of mine ever since I was posted to work on Islay at Bruichladdich back in the 1960s. From finding the perfect piece of land on Islay for the distillery back in 2015 to now seeing our first whisky released, it’s truly the culmination of a lifelong dream for the Laing family.”
Notably, Ardnahoe is proud to have the only worm-tub condensers in Scotland, which enhance the spirit’s flavor and complexity.
On the nose, you’ll find “shortbread, baked apples, and Islay peat smoke”. On the palate, you’ll find “custard, ginger, lemon zest, and baked apples” leading to a “long, smoky finish”. The spirit is released at 43% ABV and is available at the distillery and online.
One of Stewart’s sons, Scott, Hunter Laing & Co Business Development Director, added: “This is a very proud moment for us. The Laing family’s passion and knowledge about Scotch whisky has endured for three generations and it’s a momentous milestone to be releasing our very own, traditionally crafted single malt from our own distillery. Watch this space for more exciting releases in the months and years ahead from Ardnahoe.”
The other son, Andrew Laing summed up the release by saying: “Ardnahoe Distillery has welcomed many thousands of visitors from all over the globe since we opened in 2019 and there’s been great anticipation at the prospect of the first ever Ardnahoe whisky being released in the UK and internationally. With the Inaugural Release, Ardnahoe has released a whisky that shows signs of one day being regarded as an Islay classic.”