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.
One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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.
Ghost Dog Vs distillery: The story behind Cù Bòcan, Tomatin’s experimental Highland spirit
One of the more intrigung new whiskies to launch this month is Cù Bòcan Creation #9. The product of American virgin oak and Manzanilla sherry casks, it’s a sweet and sour treat notable both for its flavour profile and affordability. But what’s the deal with Cù Bòcan and the distillery behind the label? It turns…
Pusser’s Rum revives its original 1979 blend with limited edition Founder’s Reserve
Pusser’s Rum is bringing its founding recipe back to life with a limited-edition bottling inspired by the extraordinary story of its founder, Charles Tobias. The new Pusser’s Rum Founder’s Reserve Limited Edition meticulously recreates the first rum blended by Tobias in 1979, the recipe that helped establish the brand’s reputation for characterful Caribbean rum. Founder’s…
Cù Bòcan Creation #9 is a 17 Year Old Highland whisky with a sweet and salty cinematic twist
Highland whisky innovator Cù Bòcan has launched the oldest whisky in its experimental Creations series to date, drawing inspiration from an unlikely source: sweet and salty popcorn. The new limited-edition Creation #9 combines lightly peated Highland single malt with a maturation programme designed to mirror the contrast of sweet and savoury notes found in everyone’s…
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