Ardnahoe Distillery: History, Owner and Visitor Guide
Updated: 7 hours ago
Ardnahoe is one of Islay's newest distilleries, owned by the family-run Hunter Laing and Company. This guide covers where it is, how it came about and the questions people ask most.
In this guide
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Ardnahoe at a glance
Distillery fact | Verified detail |
|---|---|
Region | Islay, Scotland |
Ownership | Hunter Laing & Co |
History | Opened 2019; first whisky released 2024 |
Whisky and production | Core releases confirmed by the producer's shop |
Named expressions | Ardnahoe Infinite Loch, Ardnahoe Bholsa, Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1 |
Visits | Verify public access, current tours and opening times with the distillery before travelling. |
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Where is Ardnahoe Distillery?
Ardnahoe is on the north-east coast of Islay, just north of Port Askaig, between the Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain distilleries. It sits between Loch Ardnahoe and the Sound of Islay. The name translates from the Gaelic as Height of the Hollow.
Ardnahoe history
Plans were submitted to Argyll and Bute Council in January 2016. By October 2017 the distillery was under construction. It opened in April 2019, the first new whisky distillery to open on Islay for 15 years, and was opened by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.
It was built with an investment of £12 million from Hunter Laing and Company, a Scottish family-owned whisky business. The site covers four acres and the management team is led by Stewart Hunter Laing and his sons Scott and Andrew.
By November 2019 Ardnahoe had welcomed 24,000 visitors and had been awarded a five-star grading by VisitScotland. Its first whisky was released in summer 2024. It is 5 years old and matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
Who owns Ardnahoe?
Ardnahoe is owned by Hunter Laing and Company.
Stills and facilities
Stills: one wash still and one spirit still.
Condensing: old-style worm tubs, which are unusual for Islay.
Water source: Ardnahoe Loch.
Capacity: 900,000 litres.
Visitor centre with retail facilities and a whisky bar.
Ardnahoe timeline
2013: Stewart Laing founds Hunter Laing and Co with his sons Andrew and Scott
January 2016: site bought on Islay's north-east coast and plans lodged
September 2016: Argyll and Bute Council approves the plans
2017: former Bruichladdich master distiller Jim McEwan joins as production director
14 October 2018: first spirit runs through the stills
9 November 2018: first cask filled
April 2019: distillery opens to visitors (12 April per The Single Cask)
2019: Scarabus, a sourced Islay single malt, launched to bridge the wait
2024: first Ardnahoe single malt, a five year old, released
Whiskypedia calls Ardnahoe Islay's ninth distillery. Its history gives the plan as an 8 million pound distillery, while The Single Cask and our earlier source give a 12 million pound investment. The final cost is not confirmed.
Production facts
Whiskypedia lists barley peated to 40 ppm from Port Ellen Maltings and a 2.5 tonne semi-lauter mash tun. Two mashes fill one of four Oregon pine washbacks of 25,000 litres, and fermentation runs 60 to 70 hours. There is one wash still of 12,500 litres and one spirit still of 9,500 litres, both lamp glass shaped, run slowly. Filling strength is 63.5 per cent and new-make is 68.5 per cent. Water comes from Ardnahoe Loch.
Whiskypedia and The Single Cask both note worm tub condensers, which are unusual on Islay. Whiskypedia adds 77 metres of copper coiling and says the lyne arms, at 24.5 feet, are the longest in Scotland. Casks are first-fill ex-bourbon, with some experimental ex-oloroso and Pedro Ximenez butts. Capacity is about 0.9 million litres per Whiskypedia, while The Single Cask says reported figures run from about 500,000 to 900,000 and the owner has never confirmed one.
Owner and the family story
Ardnahoe is owned by Hunter Laing and Company, a family independent bottler. The Single Cask reports that Stewart Laing died in April 2026 aged 79 and that the company continues under his sons. That detail comes from one source, so confirm it before publishing. Whiskypedia says Laing worked at Bruichladdich as a teenager, while The Single Cask says he trained there in the 1960s.
First release and bridging whisky
The Single Cask says the inaugural release was a five year old finished across ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso wood in 2024, mostly sold through the distillery and allocated markets. A trade report dated 30 April 2024 said the first release would launch on 10 May 2024. Our earlier draft said summer 2024, so the exact date is unsettled. Until then Scarabus, launched in 2019, was sourced from an undisclosed Islay distillery.
Visiting
Whiskypedia lists 9.30am to 5pm seven days a week. Islay Info lists Tuesday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm in summer, closed Sunday and Monday. These conflict, so check the official Ardnahoe site before travelling. The distillery has a visitor centre with a shop, bar and cafe, and The Single Cask says it holds a five star VisitScotland rating. Address: Port Askaig, Isle of Islay, PA46 7RN.
Sources
Further sources checked
Ardnahoe, ScotchWhisky.com Whiskypedia: https://scotchwhisky.com/whiskypedia/12616/ardnahoe/
Ardnahoe Distillery guide, The Single Cask (30 September 2026): https://www.thesinglecask.co.uk/blogs/distilleries/ardnahoe
Opening times: Islay Info, https://www.islayinfo.com/do/distilleries-and-tours/islay-distilleries/ardnahoe-distillery
What makes Ardnahoe distinctive?
Core releases confirmed by the producer's shop
Ardnahoe whisky bottle and expression comparison
Special edition availability is limited and should not be described as permanent stock.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation and context |
|---|---|---|---|
Ardnahoe Infinite Loch | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Core Islay single malt |
Ardnahoe Bholsa | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Core Islay single malt |
Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 2 | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Official cask strength bottling |
Ardnahoe Cask Strength Batch 1 | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Earlier batch of official cask strength malt |
Rare, limited and historic whisky releases
Documented special releases and older editions can sell out. They are included for education rather than as live stock claims.
Bottle / expression | Age | ABV | Cask maturation and context |
|---|---|---|---|
Ardnahoe Inaugural Release | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Inaugural limited bottling |
Ardnahoe Manager's Selection Second Release | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Limited manager-selected edition |
Ardnahoe Society 2025 | Not age-stated / edition varies | Check bottle | Limited society expression |
More distilleries to explore
Frequently asked questions about Ardnahoe
Where is Ardnahoe distillery?
On the north-east coast of Islay, just north of Port Askaig.
Who owns Ardnahoe?
Hunter Laing and Company.
When did Ardnahoe open?
In April 2019.
When was the first Ardnahoe whisky released?
In summer 2024, as a 5 year old matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks.
What does Ardnahoe mean?
Height of the Hollow in Gaelic.
Sources and editorial checks
Original historical research and source notes are preserved in this guide. Producer details, distillery access and releases may change.
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About the author
 | Filip Janczak Storyteller, drinker and explorer of all things whisky. Read more about the person behind Whisky Clan and explore additional reviews and distillery guides. |
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