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Ardbeg whisky

Ardbeg is an Islay single malt distillery on the island’s south coast, founded in 1815 and owned by The Glenmorangie Company, part of Moët Hennessy. It makes heavily peated whisky, and a purifier on its spirit still sends heavier vapours back for redistillation.

The core range starts with Wee Beastie, a 5 Year Old at 47.4% ABV (£32.95 at Master of Malt), and the Ten at 46% ABV (£39.95 at Hard To Find Whisky). An Oa (46.6% ABV, £44.91 at Master of Malt) follows, then the two stronger bottlings without an age statement: Uigeadail (54.2% ABV, £62.50 at Master of Malt), which uses ex-sherry butts, and Corryvreckan (57.1% ABV, £74.95 at Hard To Find Whisky), which uses new French oak. Most years also bring a limited release, where stock and prices vary more between shops. Ardbeg says its malt is peated to at least 55 ppm before distillation. Where a label gives no figure, our peat tag reflects the distillery’s house style rather than a measurement for that particular bottling.

For other peated malts, see the best smoky whiskies, and for the history, Whiskipedia on Ardbeg. Prices are the best current in-stock offer from the UK retailers we check (how we compare prices).

72 full-size bottles (50cl to 1 litre) in stock, plus 1 smaller bottle under 50cl, with the best current price from the UK retailers we check.

Engraving of Ardbeg distillery low on the Islay shore, with rocks in front and ships offshore
Engraving from Alfred Barnard, The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom (1887). Public domain.

Known for

The flavour families that most often turn up for Ardbeg, based on its available bottles.

A guide to the house style rather than a promise: individual releases can differ.

About the distillery

Region
Islay, Scotland
Founded
1815
Status
Producing
Capacity
2.4 million litres of pure alcohol a year (stated capacity, not actual output); as recorded October 2026. Number 82 of 169 by stated capacity.
Stills
4 (2 wash, 2 spirit)
Owner
Owned by Moet Hennessy (LVMH) (since 2004), through The Glenmorangie Co; as recorded October 2026
Say it
ard*beg
Notable
Doig pagoda roof (replica), Coastal site
SMWS code
33, the number on Scotch Malt Whisky Society bottlings (SMWS code decoder)
Visitor rating
4.6 out of 5 (1031 reviews); TripAdvisor, October 2026
Travel Index
Rank #1 in Scotland (Diamond Tier), score 92.2/100. Milroy's Travel Index.

Read the full history on Whiskipedia

Secondary Market Barometer

67,184 lots sold · £19.9m hammer total

How Ardbeg bottles have traded at Scotch Whisky Auctions, Whisky Auctioneer and Whisky Hammer between May 2011 and October 2026. Hammer prices exclude buyer's premium, VAT and delivery, except that a Whisky Hammer price includes 20% VAT when a VAT-registered business sells the lot.

Trading volume
#3Among the most tradedof 181 distilleries by lots sold
Bids per lot
20.6Average biddingWhisky Auctioneer only, against 20.5 across all distilleries
Median hammer price
£155.00average £295.56, pulled up by the top lots
Independent bottlings
9%of lots (5,740), the rest official bottlings (61,444)Median hammer: official £150.00, independent £270.00
Highest hammer prices
BottleSoldHammer
Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask2022£35,000.00
Ardbeg 1965 23 Year Old2019£26,500.00
Ardbeg 1967 Kingsbury's 29 Year Old2019£25,024.00
Most often sold
BottleLotsMedian
Ardbeg 8 Year Old For Discussion Committee Release1,277£55.00
Ardbeg Perpetuum Bicentenary Committee Release1,147£140.00
Ardbeg Galileo1,034£150.00
Top independent bottlers
BottlerLotsMedian
Douglas Laing788£775.00
Gordon & MacPhail770£370.00
Scotch Malt Whisky Society770£210.00

Past auction results, not a valuation or a guide to future prices. Figures compiled 12 November 2026.

Before comparing a hammer price with a shop price, add the fees: buying whisky at auction vs retail works through them. Auction medians for many brands have fallen since their 2021 and 2022 peaks, as what 1.6 million auction lots show about whisky prices sets out.

Also sold as

Names linked to Ardbeg. Bottles sold under these names are listed separately from Ardbeg's own.

Big Peat

Blended malt including Ardbeg, confirmed by the bottler. Source

Questions

What is the cheapest Ardbeg whisky?
The cheapest Ardbeg whisky is Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Year Old (5 years old, 47.4% ABV, 70cl), at £32.95 from Master of Malt. That is £37.90 delivered to the UK mainland for one bottle. Next cheapest: Ardbeg 10 Year Old (£39.95) and Ardbeg An Oa (£44.91).
How much does Ardbeg whisky cost?
Ardbeg whisky costs from £32.95 to £1,999.00, with a median of £239.95 for a full-size bottle (50cl to 1 litre). The dearest is Ardbeg 25 Year Old - Lord Of The Isles Single Malt Whisky.
What is the oldest Ardbeg whisky you can buy?
Ardbeg Guaranteed Very Old Finest Islay Single Malt 1966 30 Year Old Whisky, at 30 years old, from £1,600.00.
How heavily peated is Ardbeg single malt?
Ardbeg says its malt is peated to at least 55 ppm (parts per million) of phenols, measured in the malted barley before distillation. Its spirit still has a purifier that returns heavier vapours for redistillation. The stated malt specification is not a measurement of phenols in the finished whisky. See Ardbeg on its process.
What is the difference between Ardbeg Uigeadail and Corryvreckan?
Both are non-age-statement single malts bottled at high strength. Ardbeg Uigeadail is bottled at 54.2% ABV and blends ex-bourbon casks with traditional ex-oloroso sherry butts, contributing rich dried fruit and dark chocolate notes. Corryvreckan is bottled at 57.1% ABV and combines ex-bourbon American oak with new French oak casks, emphasising spicy wood tannins, clove, and medicinal smoke.
What makes Ardbeg stills unique on Islay?
Ardbeg is the only distillery on Islay whose spirit still is fitted with a purifier unit, a small pipe connecting the lyne arm back to the body of the still. Heavy, less volatile spirit compounds condense in the purifier and return to the pot for redistillation, ensuring only the lightest, most fragrant vapours reach the condenser.
Is Ardbeg chill-filtered?
Ardbeg bottles its core single malts, including Ardbeg Ten (46% ABV), An Oa, Uigeadail and Corryvreckan, without chill filtration at 46% ABV or above, preserving naturally occurring fatty acids, esters, and proteins that contribute to mouthfeel.
Who owns Ardbeg?
The Glenmorangie Company, which is part of Moët Hennessy, the drinks arm of LVMH. The same company owns Glenmorangie in Tain. See Whiskipedia on Ardbeg.