Ardbeg Distillery plans luxurious transformation of The Islay Hotel
Published Date: 5th March 2024
Single malt celebrates its island home with world-class whisky & hospitality experience
Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky is planning a luxurious transformation of a well-known hotel near its Distillery, celebrating the best of Islay. On a mission to create a world-class whisky and hospitality experience, Ardbeg purchased the popular Islay Hotel on its remote Scottish island home in 2022. Now, with a proposed multi-million-pound enhancement designed to honour the spirit of Islay and share the stories in which its brand is steeped, Ardbeg aims to offer exceptional accommodation, food and drink to local residents, tourists and whisky enthusiasts long into the future.
Ardbeg has been distilling its untamed smoky whisky on Islay for more than 200 years, and aims to do all it can to make the island a great place to work, live and visit. So when the opportunity came to invest in the town of Port Ellen by acquiring the hotel, Ardbeg jumped at the chance. The team plans to run the hotel in its current guise until late summer 2024, with all existing bookings honoured. After a short closure period, they aim to re-open in May 2025, with a witty and distinctly Ardbeggian restyling of every floor. During the renovation, all hotel staff will be retained and temporarily redeployed to other roles on the island.
Led by interior storymakers Russell Sage Studio, who have already played a leading role in the transformation of the Distillery’s visitor centre, proposed changes include:
- A reimagined bar with courtyard, called The Islay Bar. Named after the hotel’s much-loved former watering hole which closed years ago, it is designed as a hub to bring local residents and visitors together;
- A new-look restaurant on the ground floor, which will be open to non-residents, with a private dining room for special occasions.
- A new name for the hotel, which will be known as Ardbeg House;
- Quirky and luxurious bedrooms and suites, each telling unique stories of Islay and its legends and Ardbeg, complete with numerous playful details and hidden surprises;
- An exclusive space for hotel residents and members of the Ardbeg Committee - the brand’s loyal following – on the lower ground floor, with an area for games, a whisky cave and a unique after-hours-style warmth. The Committee is free to join on ardbeg.com;
- An exclusive Ardbeg whisky, only available at the hotel and the Ardbeg Distillery Visitor Centre
CEO Caspar MacRae said: “We are dedicated to making our island a great place to live and visit. So we are tremendously excited about our plans to create a world-class whisky and hospitality experience for Islay residents, visitors to the island and Committee Members. We welcome all to come and explore the best of Islay. While the hotel will, of course, be a spiritual home for the most ardent Ardbeggians, we promise even those just getting to know the world’s smokiest, peatiest Islay malt, will leave lifelong fans.”
More Whisky News
News: Kilchoman - 25th April 2024
Kilchoman Distillery: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2024
News: Lerwick Distillery - 23rd April 2024
Shetland’s first whisky distillery is set to open in 2024 following support from Business Gateway
News: Cabrach Distillery - 22nd April 2024
The Cabrach Distillery in Speyside, prepares for launch in heartland of malt whisky
News: Ardbeg - 16th April 2024
Limited-Edition Whisky’s Brings The Spirit Of The Circus To Ardbeg Day
News: Douglas Laing - 15th April 2024
Douglas Laing marks their distilling debut with the launch of Strathearn Single Malt Scotch Whisky
News: Bladnoch - 11th April 2024
Bladnoch completes Waterfall Series with fifth and final edition set to be unveiled at Waterfall Day 2024
<< Read more latest news at Planet Whiskies
Distillery of the Month: March/April 2024
Tomintoul Distillery Tour
Planet Whiskies had a fantastic trip up to the Speyside Whisky region of Scotland in February 2024 to visit Angus Dundee Distillers Tomintoul Distillery within the Cairngorms National Park. Then, after the distillery tour and tasting, which was hosted by Iain Forteath, the master blender of Tomintoul, our press group travelled and stayed the night at the recently bought country home of Tomintoul House in the Aultmore Estate (previously called Aultmore House). Planet Whiskies has made the Tomintoul Distillery, Distillery of the Month for both March/April 2024. Read more Planet Whiskies Tomintoul Distillery Tour
Distillery of the Month: February 2024
Bushmills Distillery Tour
Planet Whiskies visited the new Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland on the 25th and 26th of September. Read our review of the experience of Bushmills and Northern Ireland at Planet Whiskies tour of Bushmills and Northern Ireland
You can also read the whole section about Bushmills Distillery at Bushmills Distillery Information on Planet Whiskies... So Bushmills was Planet Whiskies Distillery of the Month title for January/February 2024
Drams Delivered To Your Door
Drams Delivered To Your Door - The World’s Biggest Whisky Club Drops New Monthly Subscription Service
Whisky enthusiasts can now take their passion to the next level and have exceptional cask strength single malt whiskies delivered to their doors every month thanks to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's new 'Drop & Dram' subscription service.
Click for more details
Whisky Tasting Sets
Stay Connected
Get Newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest news, popular news and exclusive updates.
Latest Whisky News
Find out more about Scottish Distillery
Planet Whiskies Distillery Tours
Master Distillers Q&A
-
Keith Law: Master Distiller of Diageo
There are now two special pages on this website all about the views of Keith Law, the Master Distiller at Diageo. First page is about Blended Whisky and Food and the second page is a question and answer session relating to Keith's past experiences.... VIEW ANSWERS