Established in 1815, Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. And while it is one of the smokiest Islay whiskies, Ardbeg is also renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee, made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers, keen to ensure “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 160,000 members in over 130 countries. Ardbeg is loved not only by its fans, but also by the experts, who have made it the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky. The brand’s numerous accolades include winning World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards twice, the International Whisky Competition Distillery of the Year Award three years running, and the competition’s World Whisky of the Year for Ardbeg Uigeadail.