Ardbeg whisky

Ardbeg, on Islay’s south coast, makes heavily peated single malt, and this page compares every Ardbeg we track, core range and limited releases alike, with the best current UK price for each.

The core range runs from Wee Beastie, aged five years, through the Ten, An Oa, Uigeadail and Corryvreckan, joined by older bottlings such as the 15 Year Old Trudernish. Most years also bring a limited release, such as Smokiverse or Heavy Vapours, where stock and prices vary more between shops. Ardbeg’s malt is usually peated to 50–55 ppm, and where a label does not state a figure our peat tag reflects that house style.

For the distillery’s history, see Whiskipedia on Ardbeg. Prices are the best current in-stock offer from the UK retailers we check (how we compare prices).

72 bottles in stock, 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.

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
Visitor tours
Open to visitors (tours from £20, avg £59; checked October 2026). See distillery tour guide.
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

57,572 lots sold · £17.0m hammer total

How Ardbeg bottles have traded at Scotch Whisky Auctions and Whisky Auctioneer between January 2011 and October 2026. Hammer prices exclude buyer's premium, VAT and delivery.

Trading volume
#5of 182 distilleries by lots sold
Bids per lot
20.2Whisky Auctioneer only, against 19.9 across all distilleries
Median hammer price
£152average £295, pulled up by the top lots
Independent bottlings
8%of lots (4,785), the rest official bottlings (52,787)
Highest hammer prices
BottleSoldHammer
Ardbeg 1974 Single Cask2022£35,000
Ardbeg 1965 23 Year Old2019£26,500
Ardbeg 1965 23 Year Old2021£26,000
Most often sold
BottleLotsMedian
Ardbeg 10 Year Old2,703£50
Ardbeg 8 Year Old1,953£65
Ardbeg 19 Year Old1,745£190

Past auction results, not a valuation or a guide to future prices. Figures compiled 1 November 2026.

Also sold as

Names used when Ardbeg whisky is bottled without the distillery's name. These bottles are listed separately from Ardbeg's own.

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 (£40.52) and Ardbeg An Oa (£45.70).
How much does Ardbeg whisky cost?
Ardbeg whisky costs from £32.95 to £9,999.95, with a median of £249.95 for a full-size bottle. The dearest is Ardbeg Single Cask #2752 1974 31 year old Whisky.
What is the oldest Ardbeg whisky you can buy?
Ardbeg Single Cask #2752 1974 31 year old Whisky, at 31 years old, from £9,999.95.
How heavily peated is Ardbeg single malt?
Ardbeg malt is sourced from Port Ellen maltings and peated to approximately 50 to 55 ppm (parts per million) total phenols in the dry malted barley. Despite this heavy peat specification, Ardbeg incorporates a purifier pipe on its spirit still, which increases copper reflux and captures lighter, floral fruit esters to balance the heavy phenolic peat smoke.
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.