Ardbeg Distillery

Famous for its distinctive flavored whiskies and high alcohol content (often bottled at above the minimum 40%), the Ardberg Distillery has been producing whisky since 1815. Despite closing down temporarily in 1981, the distillery reopened in 1997 and has rebuilt its reputation as an innovator in the Scotch whisky scene. Ardberg even hit the headlines in 2011, when it sent a cask of whisky to the International Space Station – an experiment to monitor the effects of zero gravity on whisky maturation.
Today, the Ardberg Distillery is open for guided tours, and visitors can explore the 19th­-century distillery, view the natural water source and sample whiskies in the Chairman’s Study. Also onsite is a holiday cottage, Visitor Centre and the Old Kiln Café.

Practical Info

The Ardbeg Distillery is located in Port Ellen on the Isle of Islay in the Scottish Hebrides Islands. The distillery visitor center is open daily (weekdays only from November to March) from 9.30am­-5pm and tours and tastings start from £5 at the time of writing.