Ardbeg has announced plans to transform the Islay Hotel into a luxury whisky and hospitality experience. The hotel, which is nearby to Ardbeg’s Islay distillery, was purchased by Ardbeg in 2022. It will be run in its current form until the end of summer 2024 before closure and refurbishment.
The distillery plans to reopen the hotel in May 2025, after a “witty and distinctly Ardbeggian” makeover. For the duration of the closure, the hotel staff will be retained and redeployed temporarily to other roles locally.
The planned multi-million-pound refurbishment will be led by Russell Sage Studio, which Ardbeg worked with on its visitor centre. Once reopened, the hotel will be known as Ardbeg House, and be the home of a whisky exclusive to the hotel and the Ardbeg Distillery visitor centre.
Further developments will include a restaurant open to guests and non-residents, “quirky and luxurious” rooms and suites, and the reopened Islay Bar and courtyard. The hotel will also offer an exclusive space open to guests and Ardbeg Committee members, which will feature a ‘whisky cave’.
Caspar MacRae, CEO, 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.”
It was announced today that Ardbeg has entered a bottling for Whisky Auctioneer's first International Women's Day auction. The expression, which will be part of the auction's Demeter Collection, is a 20-year-old Ardbeg made by Gillian Macdonald to celebrate her 20th year in the whisky industry.
