Ardbeg, the Islay distillery famous for producing some of Scotland’s smokiest whiskies, has opened the doors of its first boutique hotel. Ardbeg House, located in the island village of Port Ellen, welcomes its first guests this week.
The 12-room property, housed in the former Islay Hotel, has been redeveloped to offer visitors an immersive whisky experience.
Designed with input from Russell Sage Studio, the interiors blend modern luxury with local craft, featuring everything from copper wall art fashioned from a retired still to chandeliers inspired by the island’s maritime past.
From the outside, Ardbeg House looks like a handsome coastal inn, but step inside and the distillery’s eccentric personality soon comes into play. There are buttons labelled ‘Press for Smoke’ to reveal hidden drams, a courtyard grill that mirrors the spirit’s peat-fired flavour, and a communal ‘Shortie’s Table’ for guests to share food and stories, named after Ardbeg’s canine mascot.
Each suite and bedroom carries a theme inspired by Islay’s legends and folklore, from smugglers’ hideaways to mythical sea creatures.
Meanwhile, the Signature Restaurant leans on local produce, including hand-dived scallops sourced by one of Ardbeg’s own stillmen, while the Islay Bar revives a much-loved public house from the island’s past.
At 18:15 each evening, Ardbeggians gather for whisky hour, a ritual nod to the distillery’s founding year, to toast with an exclusive dram named Badger Juice, drawn only from a cask at the bar.
Each suite and bedroom carries a theme inspired by Islay’s legends and folklore, from smugglers’ hideaways to mythical sea creatures…
Ardbeg rituals now come with a room key
Ardbeg President and CEO Caspar MacRae declares Ardbeg House a one-of-a-kind travel destination which will further enhance Islay’s reputation as one of the premiere destinations for whisky tourism
“Whether or not our guests are smoky malt lovers when they arrive, we guarantee that by the time they leave, they will be lifelong fans of Ardbeg and Islay,” he says.
For whisky fans, the significance of this project is clear. Ardbeg has long been a cult distillery, celebrated for bottlings that balance smoke with sweetness – the so-called peaty paradox.
Despite being among the most heavily peated whiskies in the world (often hitting 50–60 ppm of phenols), Ardbeg manages to deliver a complex, fruity, and floral sweetness that defies expectations.
Saved from near-extinction in 1997, the distillery has become one of Islay’s most recognisable names, attracting pilgrims from across the globe eager to experience the whitewashed distillery on the island’s southern coast.
Ardbeg House now extends that pilgrimage into a full stay. Guests don’t just tour the distillery and taste a few drams, they get to live in Ardbeg’s world for a night or two.
Rooms can be booked for autumn 2025 and beyond, with rates available via the distillery’s website here.
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The Luxe Review 
Ardbeg, the Islay distillery famous for producing some of Scotland’s smokiest whiskies, has opened the doors of its first boutique hotel. Ardbeg House, located in the island village of Port Ellen, welcomes its first guests this week.
The 12-room property, housed in the former Islay Hotel, has been redeveloped to offer visitors an immersive whisky experience.
Designed with input from Russell Sage Studio, the interiors blend modern luxury with local craft, featuring everything from copper wall art fashioned from a retired still to chandeliers inspired by the island’s maritime past.
From the outside, Ardbeg House looks like a handsome coastal inn, but step inside and the distillery’s eccentric personality soon comes into play. There are buttons labelled ‘Press for Smoke’ to reveal hidden drams, a courtyard grill that mirrors the spirit’s peat-fired flavour, and a communal ‘Shortie’s Table’ for guests to share food and stories, named after Ardbeg’s canine mascot.
Each suite and bedroom carries a theme inspired by Islay’s legends and folklore, from smugglers’ hideaways to mythical sea creatures.
Meanwhile, the Signature Restaurant leans on local produce, including hand-dived scallops sourced by one of Ardbeg’s own stillmen, while the Islay Bar revives a much-loved public house from the island’s past.
At 18:15 each evening, Ardbeggians gather for whisky hour, a ritual nod to the distillery’s founding year, to toast with an exclusive dram named Badger Juice, drawn only from a cask at the bar.
Ardbeg rituals now come with a room key
Ardbeg President and CEO Caspar MacRae declares Ardbeg House a one-of-a-kind travel destination which will further enhance Islay’s reputation as one of the premiere destinations for whisky tourism
“Whether or not our guests are smoky malt lovers when they arrive, we guarantee that by the time they leave, they will be lifelong fans of Ardbeg and Islay,” he says.
For whisky fans, the significance of this project is clear. Ardbeg has long been a cult distillery, celebrated for bottlings that balance smoke with sweetness – the so-called peaty paradox.
Despite being among the most heavily peated whiskies in the world (often hitting 50–60 ppm of phenols), Ardbeg manages to deliver a complex, fruity, and floral sweetness that defies expectations.
Saved from near-extinction in 1997, the distillery has become one of Islay’s most recognisable names, attracting pilgrims from across the globe eager to experience the whitewashed distillery on the island’s southern coast.
Ardbeg House now extends that pilgrimage into a full stay. Guests don’t just tour the distillery and taste a few drams, they get to live in Ardbeg’s world for a night or two.
Rooms can be booked for autumn 2025 and beyond, with rates available via the distillery’s website here.
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