Ardbeg Distillery

The most obviously peated of all the Islay malts, unlike Laphroaig, who remove the outer husk of the grain after smoking, Ardbeg use the whole thing allowing more of the peat flavour to be expressed in the whisky, though the debate will rumble on over which is technically the most peated! The 'purifier' apparatus on the Lyne arm of Ardbeg's spirit still puts some of the heavier alcoholic compounds back into the still for further reflux, giving the whisky added complexity and wonderful peaty (phenolic) balance. The distillery was mothballed in 1981 but fortunately re-opened in 1997 so stocks from before 1981 are ever decreasing.