November 2024
Ardnahoe Inaugural Release
This is the most anticipated release from a new Scottish distillery and an absolute rare find in the whisky world — an inaugural release from Islay. Officially launched exclusively with the Club here in Australia, especially for Members.
Scotch, Peated, Single Malt
Colour
Deep acornNose
Peanut brittle, shortbread, Meyer lemon zest, Islay peat smokePalate
Custard, ginger, baked apple, pecan, earthy spiceWhat makes this whisky so special
This is almost unheard of. This is the first inaugural release from Islay, home to some of the most sought-after whiskies in all of Scotland, in 15 years. So hotly pursued, it sold out in less than a day. Before then, it’d been 140 years since fellow Islay distilleries Bruichladdich or Bunnahabhain dropped a first release.
Of all the new distilleries in Scotland, Ardnahoe's Inaugural Release is the most anticipated. And the distillery’s debut has proven well worth the wait:
“It's a well-developed single malt that can hold its own with some of Islay's more illustrious names.” — Thijs Klaverstijn, Words of Whisky.
Ardnahoe Inaugural Release was matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso Sherry casks and has been bottled at 50% ABV, with no artificial colouring or chill-filtration.
With peated barley sourced from Islay’s fabled Port Ellen Maltings and with phenol content of 40ppm — similar to Caol Isla (35-38ppm) and Lagavulin (35ppm) — this brilliant dram exudes shortbread, peanut brittle, baked apple, Meyer lemon and a long smoky finish.
Don’t pass up your chance to own a rare Islay, and taste why whisky lovers the world over want these bottles. Already sold out at the distillery door, it’s official launch is exclusive to the Club here in Australia.
Ardnahoe Inaugural Release is now sold out and was available for Add In by Members for $165 in November 2024.
If you’re not a Member yet, join free now to get your hands on our upcoming releases.
The Specs
- Price
- $165.00
- Age
- 5 Years Old
- ABV
- 50.0%
- Maturation
- Matured in a combination of ex-Oloroso Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks
- Country
- United Kingdom
Ardnahoe’s History
Ardnahoe distillery represents a new chapter in Islay’s whisky history. Nestled between Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain distilleries on Islay’s rugged east coast, the Scottish family-owned and managed distillery is the newest in the iconic Scottish region — built 15 years after Kilchoman launched its inaugural release.
Stewart Laing and sons Andrew and Scott formed Hunter Laing & Co Ltd, an independent bottling company, in 2013 with a long-held dream to one day make their own whisky. The Laing family has a deep involvement in the whisky industry. In the 1940s, Stewart’s father founded his own independent bottling company. And Stewart has some 50 years of experience in the industry.
“Building our own distillery was a hugely important and long dreamed of step and it’s been a personal ambition of mine ever since I was posted to work on Islay at Bruichladdich back in the 1960s,” says Stewart.
“From finding the perfect piece of land on Islay for the distillery back in 2015 to now seeing our first whisky released, it’s truly the culmination of a lifelong dream for the Laing family.”
In 2016, the family acquired the site on the north of Islay. Construction began the following year and by 2019 Ardnahoe distillery was ready to open its doors to whisky lovers. In May 2024, the first Ardnahoe cask was bottled.
Whisky industry veteran Jim McEwan, arguably the best-known figure in Islay whisky — renowned for his instrumental involvement with Bowmore and Bruichladdich — was brought on as production director in 2017. He was followed by Fraser Hughes, who currently holds the role.
With a strong affinity for Islay and a reverence for its distinctive, peated malt whiskies, reviewers have remarked that Adnahoe distillery stands shoulder to shoulder with its Islay neighbours. The distillery has differentiated itself with its approach to whiskymaking, as the only one using worm tub condensers and Scotland’s longest lyne arms at 24.5 feet.
Since news of the distillery’s inception, Ardnahoe's inaugural whisky has been the most anticipated Scottish release in recent history.
Distillery Facts
- Region
- Islay
- Origin
- Port Askaig, Islay PA46 7RN
- Founded
- 2018
- Water source
- Ardnahoe Loch
- Washbacks
- 4, Oregon pine
- Stills
- 2 (1 wash, 1 spirit)
- Capacity
- 900,000 litres per annum
Member reviews
Here’s what’s coming up for Members
THE OLDEST EVER 100% ISLAY BARLEY BATCH
November 2026 Whisky of the Month
Bruichladdich Islay Barley Unpeated 14 Year Old, Club Exclusive Batch
The oldest ever 100% Islay barley Bruichladdich batch is coming, and Members of the Club get it before anyone else in the world. “This is Bruichladdich at its absolute peak.” Unpeated, 14 years old, made entirely using the rare remnants of 2011’s vintage stocks.
