Ardnahoe 6 year old Chairman's Selection

Overview: The Ardnahoe 6 year old - Chairman's Selection at a glance

• Unique Special Edition: As a one-off release, the Chairman's Selection remains a strictly limited, exclusive offering.
• A Tribute to the Founder: This bottling was created according to Stewart Laing’s personal specifications and honors his legacy.
• Ardnahoe’s Most Intense Expression: The distillery’s peatiest release to date utilizes heavily peated stocks available for the first time.
• Distinctive Cask Maturation: Oloroso, PX, and Bourbon casks lend an exceptional character to the maturation process.
• Includes a Personal Message: Each bottle contains a letter from Stewart Laing detailing his vision and the story of Ardnahoe.

Portrait: What makes the Ardnahoe 6 year old - Chairman's Selection special

With the Ardnahoe 6 Year Old – Chairman's Selection, the newest distillery on the Scottish whisky island of Islay demonstrates that age isn't everything. Sometimes, six years is all it takes - provided you have the right casks, a great idea, and a family history that spans a period longer than the lifespan of many existing distilleries. Ardnahoe was founded in 2018 by the Laing family, a name closely linked to the world of Scotch whisky since the 1940s. After decades as independent bottlers, the family realized their dream of owning their own distillery - fittingly located on Islay, where peat and whisky are practically part of the landscape. It goes without saying that the result was never going to be just any ordinary single malt. The Chairman's Selection is a truly special release. Created according to the personal specifications of the late founder Stewart Laing, it stands as an emotional legacy of this whisky pioneer. At the same time, it marks a genuine premiere: for the first time, Ardnahoe’s heavily peated stocks - previously kept under strict guard - are being bottled. It doesn't get much more "premiere" than this without rolling out the red carpet.

This bottling remains unique as a one-off release. It was matured for six years in an exceptional combination of first-fill Oloroso hogsheads, first-fill PX quarter casks, and refill Bourbon casks - a cask ensemble that impresses even on paper. Naturally, it is bottled at cask strength - a robust 60.2% ABV - without coloring or chill-filtration.

Another highlight awaits right inside the bottle - or rather, alongside it: Each release includes a personal letter from Stewart Laing. In it, the founder shares his vision for Ardnahoe, the story behind the creation of this special edition, and the history of the distillery. This transforms the Chairman's Selection into more than just a limited-edition whisky; it becomes a small piece of Scottish family history. 
And hand on heart: how often do you receive mail from the founder personally when opening a bottle?

In honour of founder Stewart Hunter Laing:

For over six decades, Stewart Laing shaped the world of whisky with passion, experience, and a visionary entrepreneurial spirit. In 2013, he and his sons founded the independent bottling company Hunter Laing & Co Ltd, which gave rise to successful and internationally acclaimed ranges such as Old & Rare and Old Malt Cask. His long-held dream of owning an Islay distillery became a reality in 2018 with the establishment of the Ardnahoe Distillery. One of the final major milestones of his career occurred on May 10, 2024, when Stewart Laing signed the first releases of his own Islay single malt - the Ardnahoe Inaugural Release - in Edinburgh. This special moment marked not only a milestone in his career but also, arguably, its proudest chapter.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Ardnahoe 6 year old - Chairman's Selection tastes like

• Nose: Robust peat smoke opens the bouquet, accompanied by maritime salty notes and dark cocoa. Beneath this, elegant, smoky, and coastal nuances emerge.
• Palate: On the palate, the peat smoke unfolds even more intensely, accompanied by earthy, smoldering smoky notes. These are joined by creamy lemon curd, honey-sweet malt, and fruity notes of stewed plums, creating a complex balance.
• Finish: Long, dry, and lingering, with the fading ash of peat embers, freshly cracked black pepper, and a hint of salted toffee.