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Day 4 - KWM 2024 This Is Not An Advent Calendar – Ardnahoe 5 Year Inaugural Release

Posted on July 15, 2025

Day 4: Ardnahoe 5 Year Inaugural Release

By Evan

It isn’t every day that you get the opportunity to taste the first official release from an Islay Distillery.

Ardnahoe is the youngest of 10 currently operating distilleries on Islay to have released whisky. There are currently 10 operating Whisky Distilleries on Islay.

Here are the currently operating Islay Distilleries as of December 2024, listed based on founding date:

  1. Bowmore — 1779
  2. Ardbeg — 1815
  3. Lagavulin — 1816
  4. Laphroaig — 1820
  5. Caol Ila – 1846
  6. Bunnahabhain — 1880
  7. Bruichladdich — 1881
  8. Kilchoman — 2005
  9. Ardnahoe — 2019
  10. Port Ellen – 1825 / 2024

Port Ellen has yet to have whisky releases from its newly (re)built operation, though you can find some of their pre-1983 closure 40+ year old Single Malt Scotch around if you have the money for it… Perhaps the Port Ellen story is one we will get to delve into on a future KWM Not an Advent Calendar Tasting blog post a few years from now.

Not listed, but hopefully soon to be finished construction is Portintruan Distillery. This Islay distillery was expected to begin production in late 2024. Unfortunately, the construction company in charge of the build for this new Islay distillery entered receivership in September 2024 which has put at least a temporary wrench in the works. Hopefully things will get sorted and back on track for Portintruan soon.

Let's get back to Ardnahoe. The distillery resides on the North East Coast of Islay. It is about a 10-minute drive North from Caol Ila distillery and also the Port Askaig ferry landing. Bunnahabhain distillery is a 5-minute drive away to the North. The Isle of Jura and its famous Paps can be seen from Ardnahoe Distillery on clear-ish days, lying just to the east across the Sound of Islay; the straight of seawater that separates Islay and Jura.

Ardnahoe Distillery is owned by indie bottler Hunter Laing – a company which has an interesting history.

Hunter Laing was founded in 2013 by chairman Stewart Hunter Laing and his sons Andrew and Scott. Hunter Laing came to being from a dividing of assets owned by the company Douglas Laing & Co, which Stewart and his brother Fred Laing Jr. had operated together since Fred Laing Sr. – their father passed away in 1984.

(Stewart Laing (middle) with his sons' Andrew (left) and Scott (right)).

Brothers' Stewart and Fred Jr. quietly – or not so quietly – didn’t really get along, which is what led the two to go their separate ways in 2013. Stewart Laing took with him some brands created at his former company such as Old Malt Cask and Old & Rare. Fred Laing Jr. kept the Douglas Laing and brands such as Big Peat, Old Particular, and of course, the exclusive rights to his fabulous moustache.

(The Moustache, accompanied by its owner; Fred Hamilton Laing Jr.)

Three years after the split, in 2016, Hunter Laing announced plans for an Islay Distillery. After planning and construction, the company’s Ardnahoe distillery officially opened in 2019.

Stewart Laing wanted to build and shape Ardnahoe around the idea of creating a peaty but fruit-driven whisky style that would age gracefully in both ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, with an eye especially towards Oloroso Sherry cask aging. To this end, Ardnahoe’s distillation has a few features that set it apart from other Islay distilleries. These include the surprisingly long lyne arms that descend on a very gradual slope, carrying spirit vapour from the pot stills, to the waiting worm tub condensers 24.5 feet (7.47 metres) away.

Does this combination of the longest lyne arms in Scotland plus worm tubs lead to a fruity, meaty whisky? We are about to find out.

Ardnahoe 5 Year Inaugural Release — 50%

As I said, this is the first official release from the distillery. It has been bottled at 50% after maturing in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso Sherry casks.

Evan’s Tasting Note

Nose: The coastal notes are strong in this one – like you have just been transported to a rocky beach on the Islay. Pan seared scallops, tuna sashimi dipped in soy sauce, white grapefruit juice, pear slices, cucumbers in a salty brine, and laundry fresh from the dryer with the barest hint of lavender.

Palate: Salt water taffy, crunchy tempura shrimp, more grilled scallops, pear, lycée, white chocolate, shortbread cookies, chamomile tea, and a touch of rice wine vinegar.

Finish: Not a lengthy finish, but very clean with just a hint of sweet and salty smoke notes lingering on the fade.

Comment: Is using the term crisp to describe an Islay single malt strange? I would call this a crisp, coastal and well put together first official release. I am looking forward to seeing what the future has in store for Ardnahoe, because this is a very well put together malt.

Three out of four of the first whiskys in this year’s KWM Not An Advent Calendar tasting series are peated. What will day five bring? See you tomorrow when we find out!

Cheers,
Evan

Playing catch-up on our 2024 This Is Not An Advent Calendar?

You can find the rest of the blog posts here!

 

This entry was posted in Whisky, Tastings, Whisky Calendars, Distillery, Tastings - Online Tasting, KWM 2024 Not An Advent Calendar Tastings

 

 

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