Ardbeg single malt whisky is celebrating 200 years since it was first distilled on the island of Islay.
The bicentenary will be toasted on the island on Ardbeg Day as part of the Fèis Ìle Festival – a key date for malt aficionados with thousands making the trip for a week of music and malt.
An exclusive bottling, Ardbeg Perpetuum, has also been launched to mark the occasion and will also be available from whisky specialists and department stores from 13 June.
The future of the Distillery was guaranteed in 2000 when the Ardbeg Committee was founded to ensure “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.
Today it has 100,000 members in over 130 countries who celebrate together on Ardbeg Day which this year is on 30 May.
For those not able to make the pilgrimage to Islay, committee members will join together in London at The Vinyl Factory to celebrate the anniversary.
Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said: “Ardbeg’s character has endured 200 years and we hope it will continue for centuries to come.”
He added: “The 2015 Ardbeg Day anniversary bottling, Ardbeg Perpetuum, celebrates this milestone year with a recipe that includes some very old and young Ardbeg, silky Ardbeg from bourbon barrels and some spicy Ardbeg from sherry casks.”
