Jim McEwan reveals Ardnahoe distillery plans

Ardnahoe’s production director reveals plans for Islay’s ninth distillery.
Islay’s ninth distillery is on track to be open to visitors by the time the Islay Festival rolls around in May 2018.
Today Ardnahoe distillery’s stills began their journey from Forsyths coppersmiths in Rothes across to Islay’s northeastern coast where they will be installed in a stillhouse overlooking the Sound of Islay and the Paps of Jura.
It’s a big moment for Ardnahoe owner Hunter Laing & Co., and production director Jim McEwan, the former Bruichladdich master distiller who came out of retirement to oversee the distillery build.
Scotchwhisky.com caught up with McEwan at the Ardnahoe site during last year’s Islay Festival.
Here he reveals plans for Islay’s first worm tubs, Ardnahoe’s signature style plus the (eventual) release of a single malt called the Ardnahoe Whisper.

[@ersguteratze]

And today, we enjoy the perfect islay beside Port Ellen. The Inaugural Release is amazing.

[@sebastiantrivero4603]

Great man, great Master Distiller! slainte Jim! we are very happy seeing you doing what you love and with the same passion! I met you at Bruichladdich Dist. 9 years ago, Hope to see you at Ardnahoe Dist. all the best!!!

[@Festvangelist]

Best to you Jim. We’ll be seeing you next September. Cheers

[@Shane4Bass]

Great job with Bruichladdich. Good luck with your new project Jim!

[@ojames68]

Hi JimI was at your distillery last week and it look beautiful.Very smart, very friendly people, amazing view.I can t wait for your brew to be ready for sale.I ll be back for sure. Well done.Olivier . France

[@stihlnz]

I'll be buying some of this for sure Jim, well done that man

[@russell3733]

Sounds like Jim McEwan's going to have the time of his life in that beautiful location with all the chief distiller's freedom to craft, shape and contour as he likes. Interesting to hear that the line-up won't be all that different from what Bruichladdich has offered since the turn of the century - I certainly hope that the "maritime" style of malt will continue in this new guise. The idea of introducing a 5ppm "whisperer" is novel for Islay - but then again, why not? It's an ideal way perhaps to attract the non-Islay drinker with just a faint whiff of some warm phenols. And it will provide some competition to the Bunnahabhain and Bruichladdich non-peated malts. I can't wait to see what effect that enormously long lyne arm is going to have in tandem with the old-fashioned worm tubs. I suppose there'll be more copper contact in the lyne arm, but will that lead to more reflux, it being horizontal? I'm guessing a lighter style of new make might result due to the retention of mainly lighter congeners. But then again, there's a host of other factors which may well cancel that out. At any rate, it's great to know there'll be more Jim McEwan whiskies coming onto the market in perhaps five year's time, enriching the wonderful variety Islay already offers.

[@Dashrathlama]

well done laddie!

[@jeremymoyse]

Visited the site about a month ago - fantastic place, friendly, views to die for and superb cafe. Genuinely good luck (as I sip my self-bottled "Journey").