Ardmore

Introduction:

The Ardmore distillery offers only a few original bottlings, including the Ardmore Legacy and the Ardmore 12 Years Port Wood Finish. However, there are numerous independent bottlings available. The majority of Ardmore’s production is used for the blend whisky industry, particularly for Teachers blended Scotch whisky.

Production:

The water used for Ardmore whisky comes from the water sources at Knockandy Hill. Until the mid-1970s, Ardmore had its own malting and cooperage facilities. With a focus on producing whisky for the blended malt industry, Ardmore has a high output of 5.2 million liters of spirit per year.

The Pot Stills:

Ardmore distillery operates four wash stills and four spirit stills, each with a capacity of 15,000 liters. The intermediate piece of the stills is round and lacks reflux bowls. The lyne arm descends after the bend, and the neck is short and wide, suggesting a more intense spirit. Ardmore initially started with two stills, later doubling the number to four, and then doubling again to a total of eight stills in 1975. Until the early 2000s, the Ardmore stills were heated with coal rather than hot steam.

The Malting:

After a takeover in 1976, the malting floors at Ardmore were closed, and the distillery began sourcing its malt from larger malting factories. Ardmore’s malt is lightly peated, giving it a slightly more exciting character compared to the typical Speyside whisky.

The Warehouse:

Some of Ardmore’s warehouses were once malting floors that have been converted for use as storage facilities. The cask selection at Ardmore primarily consists of ex-Bourbon casks, with quarter casks used for finishing.

History:

Founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher near the town of Kennethmont, Ardmore distillery has no connection to the former Ardmore distillery on the Isle of Islay, apart from sharing the name. Today, the distillery is owned by the Beam Suntory company.

Visitor Center:

Unfortunately, the Ardmore distillery, being a large industrial complex, does not allow visitors.

Visitor information:

Ardmore Distillery
Kennethmont
Aberdeenshire
AB54 4NH