Ardnahoe

Ardnahoe sits on the north-east coast of Islay, near Bunnahabhain and looking across the Sound of Islay to Jura. It was built by the Laing family, the people behind the independent bottler Hunter Laing & Co, and distilling began in 2018. Its water comes from Loch Ardnahoe beside the distillery, which gives the Infinite Loch release its name.

The spirit is made from peated malt and runs through copper stills with very long lyne arms, then cools in traditional worm tub condensers. The aim is a smoky Islay malt that still keeps a fruity, oily weight. The veteran Islay distiller Jim McEwan advised on the set-up in the early years.

The first official whisky came with the Inaugural Release, followed by young cask strength batches at five and six years old and limited bottlings such as the Fèis Ìle 2025 release, the Chairman's Selection and bottles for the Ardnahoe Society. Bholsa and Infinite Loch are among the other names buyers will find. As the distillery is still young, most bottles are official, though its links to an independent bottler make the occasional single cask likely.