ARDBEG COMMITTEE TOASTS TWO SPIRITED NEW LEADERS
< Distillery’s followers will probably be even nearer to its drams, beneath Co-Chairs’ plans >
(Left to proper: Jackie Thomson, Bryony McNiven and Gillian Macdonald)
The Ardbeg Committee at this time welcomes its subsequent technology of leaders, as Distillery stalwart and Committee Chair Jackie Thomson passes the smoky torch to Grasp Blender Gillian Macdonald and Customer Centre Planner Bryony McNiven, an Islay native. The primary pair of Chairs within the Committee’s 25-year historical past, these peaty devotees search to carry Ardbeg’s followers even nearer to the Distillery’s whisky making, as they expound the thrill of their smoky malt to whisky lovers in all places.
The Committee was shaped in 2000 to safeguard the way forward for Ardbeg, which had teetered getting ready to extinction just some years earlier than. Now greater than 200,000 sturdy, it’s made up of devoted followers in additional than 130 nations, all devoted to making sure that “the doorways of Ardbeg by no means shut once more”. This yr, Committee members have fun 25 years as guardians of the whisky they name The Final Islay malt.
A mainstay at Ardbeg since its revival, Jackie has served as Distillery Centre Supervisor for 27 years, and Committee Chair for the final 4. Famend for her simple smile and relentless enthusiasm, she has welcomed guests and championed Ardbeg’s trigger in numerous methods. Most memorably, main the Distillery celebrations annually on Ardbeg Day, the annual celebration of all issues Ardbeg, in her personal inimitable method. Jackie’s extraordinary contribution to Ardbeg’s rise from the ashes has been duly recognised by her business friends: in 2023, she was inducted into the Icons of Whisky Corridor of Fame.
Reflecting on her time at Ardbeg, Jackie mentioned: “My thoughts is a-buzz with so many improbable reminiscences. From the outlandish costumes I’ve donned for Ardbeg Day to the musical extravaganzas now we have hosted. We’ve survived energy cuts, madcap experiments and a worldwide pandemic. We now have welcomed wedding ceremony events, movie crews and lots of Committee Members who’ve made the pilgrimage to Islay. It’s been a peaty privilege to get to know all of them.
“I couldn’t consider two higher ladies to move the baton to. Bryony has labored alongside me as Ardbeg’s Customer Centre Planner for the previous seven years. And Gillian is Ardbeg’s Grasp Blender, no much less. Collectively they’ve a shared data of Ardbeg the whisky and Ardbeg the place, that’s fairly distinctive.”
As mates and colleagues who as soon as labored side-by-side in Ardbeg’s Whisky Creation Workforce, Gillian and Bryony have daring plans to proceed Jackie’s work – and to do much more to combine the Committee’s views into Ardbeg’s whisky making. Gillian mentioned: “It goes with out saying that Jackie will probably be sorely missed by our Committee and by all at Ardbeg. Hers are large boots to fill, however Bryony and I’ll do our greatest as Co-Chairs – maybe by carrying one every!
“In my function as Ardbeg’s Grasp Blender, a few of my favorite moments have been creating Committee releases and letting them unfastened on the individuals whose opinion actually issues. I’ve at all times cherished assembly and speaking to the Ardbeg devoted, then going again to the lab with their fiery ardour ringing in my ears. As Chair, I’m excited to carry the followers and the drams even nearer collectively.”
Following within the footsteps of her father, who labored at Ardbeg for 35 years, Bryony mentioned: “I’ve lived and breathed Ardbeg all my life, being the daughter of a stillman. For some time I used to be primarily based in Sweden as an Ardbeg model ambassador, earlier than working alongside Gillian within the Whisky Creation Workforce. However the Distillery is the place my coronary heart is, so now I’m again on Islay the place my job within the Customer Centre is to make Ardbeg essentially the most welcoming Distillery on Earth. As Committee Chair, I can’t wait to choose up the place Jackie has left off – sharing good drams, spreading the Ardbeg love and having enjoyable!”
To play a component within the Distillery’s future and maintain updated with all issues Ardbeg, smoky malt whisky followers can be part of the Ardbeg Committee totally free at ardbeg.com/en-gb/committee
Instagram: @ardbeg
Ardbeg
Ardbeg prides itself on being The Final Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the globe because the peatiest, smokiest and most complicated of all of the Islay malts. Regardless of its smokiness, Ardbeg is famend for its scrumptious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately turn into referred to as ‘the peaty paradox’. In the course of the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties, Ardbeg suffered from an unsure future, and it was not till the model was bought by The Glenmorangie Firm in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and at this time Ardbeg is well-established as a distinct segment, cult malt, with a passionate following. Right this moment, Ardbeg is without doubt one of the world’s most extremely awarded smoky single malt whiskies.
The Ardbeg Committee
The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of hundreds of Ardbeg followers worldwide who’re eager to make sure that “the doorways of Ardbeg by no means shut once more”. Right this moment there are greater than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 nations. Committee Members are frequently consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are provided unique Committee bottlings. Members additionally obtain invites to particular gatherings, tastings and occasions. The Committee is free to affix at ardbeg.com.
Awards
Ardbeg is without doubt one of the world’s most extremely awarded smoky single malt whiskies. Since 2008, Ardbeg has gained greater than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions. Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Greatest Single Malt’ on the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013). On the 2014 World Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Supervisor Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Supervisor of the 12 months’. The next yr, Ardbeg’s expressions took the highest three spots in Whisky Advocate journal’s evaluate of the very best single malt Scotch whiskies beneath US$100. In the meantime, each Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals on the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competitors. Ardbeg Ten Years Outdated additionally gained the Greatest Single Malt Scotch 10 12 months Outdated on the Worldwide Whisky Competitors 2019, whereas the Ardbeg Distillery gained the Distillery of the 12 months 2019. In 2020, the Worldwide Whisky Competitors awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Greatest Single Malt Scotch, Greatest Single Malt Scotch (No Age Assertion), Greatest cask Energy (Over 57% ABV), Greatest Peated Scotch and Greatest Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie additionally earned first place for Greatest Single Malt Scotch Beneath 10 12 months Outdated and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved one other Distillery of the 12 months award. In 2021, Dr Invoice Lumsden was awarded Grasp Distiller of the 12 months for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail gained World Whisky of the 12 months within the Worldwide Whisky Competitors. In 2022, on the Worldwide Whisky Competitors, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the 12 months Award, whereas Ardbeg Ardcore gained first place in Greatest New Scotch Launch, Greatest Peated Single Malt and Greatest Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg was awarded 4 Gold and eight Silver medals on the Worldwide Spirits Competitors, Silver within the Worldwide Wine & Spirits Competitors and Double Gold on the San Francisco World Spirits Competitors. Ardbeg 25 Years Outdated was named the World’s Greatest Scotch Whisky on the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competitors, and obtained a Platinum medal on the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competitors.
About Jackie Thomson
A number one gentle within the Distillery’s rise from the ashes to its cult standing at this time, Jackie has been in control of Ardbeg’s Customer Centre because it formally opened its doorways in 1998. Since then, she has been instrumental in creating an enticing and welcoming expertise, making the Distillery a must-visit vacation spot for guests to Islay. What’s extra, Jackie has orchestrated the long-lasting Ardbeg Day celebrations for 20 years, making certain that it is without doubt one of the largest days within the Distillery’s calendar and the crescendo of Islay’s annual Fèis Ìle pageant of music and malt.
In 2021, Jackie grew to become Chair of the Committee. Bringing her infectious enthusiasm to the function, she has impressed new single malt drinkers and Ardbeg fanatics throughout the globe. From her outlandish Ardbeg Day costumes, to her uncommon alternative of vessel from which to drink Ardbeg (a Viking horn), Jackie has set a excessive Ardbeggian bar for her successors.
About Gillian Macdonald
With 13 years at Ardbeg beneath her belt, Grasp Blender and Head of Whisky Creation Gillian is aware of extra about creating the world’s smokiest, peatiest Islay malt than nearly anybody else. Every day she ensures the standard of Ardbeg’s everlasting whiskies, and noses a whole bunch of casks annually, destined for brand new releases. Gillian, who grew to become the UK’s first feminine distiller when she joined the business in 2003, holds a first-class Honours diploma in Chemistry with Industrial Expertise. A self-confessed “tramp-through-a-peat-bog” form of Ardbeggian, she additionally has an actual tender spot for Shortie, Ardbeg’s canine mascot.
About Bryony McNiven
Bryony’s ties to Ardbeg run deep — her dad was a stillman at Ardbeg for 35 years. A summer season job throughout her chemistry research led to roles as a model ambassador in Sweden and 6 years within the Whisky Creation Workforce. She returned to Islay in 2018 as Customer Centre Planner, the place no two days are the identical. From main excursions to sharing drams and holding the customer centre ticking over, Bryony is proud to name her favorite place on the planet residence.
The Glenmorangie Firm
The Firm is without doubt one of the most famous and revolutionary distillers and entrepreneurs of Scotch whisky manufacturers worldwide and is a part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Firm produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.
