Ardbeg

Question 1

What year was Ardbeg founded?

Answer 1

1815

Question 2

How many times has Ardbeg been closed and re-opened since 1980?

Answer 2

Closed by Hiram Walker in 1981
Reopened by Allied Lyons in 1989, then closed in 1996 (Allied also owned Laphroiag)
Glenmorangie purchased and reopened in 1997

Question 3

What is the water source for Ardbeg?

Answer 3

Lake Uigedahl

Question 4

Ardbeg barley is peated to what level of phenols?

Answer 4

50-65ppm (the most peated barley for a distillery in Scotland)

Question 5

How long are the fermentations at Ardbeg?

Answer 5

54 hours

Question 6

What is the capacity of Ardbeg’s wash stills? What is the wash charge?

Answer 6

Wash Capacity = 23,500L
Wash Charge = 18,000L
76.5%

Question 7

What is the capacity of Ardbeg’s spirit stills? What is the spirits charge?

Answer 7

Spirits capacity = 16,900L
Spirits charge = 11,750L
68%

Question 8

What is the unique feature of Ardbeg’s spirit stills?

Answer 8

Purifier (pipe flowing from lyne arm back to still to create reflux and lighter spirit)

Question 9

What types of warehouses does Ardbeg use to age its casks?

Answer 9

Dunnage and Racked

Question 10

What are the whiskies that make up Ardbeg’s core range? (Please include age statement, barrel regimen, and ABV for each)

Answer 10

Wee Beastie (5yr old, Ex-Bourbon then finished in Oloroso Sherry, 47.4% ABV)
10 Year Old (10 yr old, Ex-Bourbon, 46%)
An Oa (NAS, Blend of casks: Ex-Bourbon, PX, Virgin charred barrels, 46.6% ABV)
Uigedail (NAS - Dr Bill says 9 -14 years, Ex-Bourbon and Ex-Oloroso Sherry, 54.2% ABV)
Corryvreckan (NAS, Ex-Bourbon and European oak, 57.1%)

Question 11

Who is the master distiller at Ardbeg?

Answer 11

Dr bill Lumsden (also master distiller at Glenmorangie)

Question 12

What does Dr Bill call Ardbeg?

Answer 12

“The land of the Badger Juice”

Ardbeg is an anagram for badger.

Question 13

What are the mashing waters at Ardbeg?

Answer 13

1st 17,500 liters @ 64C
2nd 8,000 liters @ 82C
3rd 17,500 liters @ 90C

Question 14

What does Ardbeg mean I Gaelic?

Answer 14

Ardbeg is an Anglicanism of Aird Beagh meaning small promontory or little headland.

Question 15

What is the Grist ratio at Ardbeg?

Answer 15

70% Grits
20% Husk
10% Flour

Question 16

Name 4 other distilleries whose stills have been fitted with purifiers.

Answer 16

Glen Grant, Glenlossie, Strathmill, and Glen Spey.

Question 17

Name 4 other distilleries whose stills have been fitted with purifiers.

Answer 17

Glen Grant, Glenlossie, Strathmill, and Glen Spey.