Islay malt distillery to reopen

Glenmorangie, the specialist malt whisky independent, has bought the mothballed Ardbeg distillery on Islay from Allied Domecq for pounds 7m in cash. The purchase includes the distillery, surrounding land and stocks, which alone are worth over pounds 5m. Allied Domecq also owns the better-known Laphroaig distillery on Islay and the bulk of the Ardbeg output has been used by Allied Domecq blends. Blending stocks are more than adequate and the distillery was mothballed last summer.

It will be recommissioned and should start producing again within six months, Glenmorangie's chairman Geoffrey Maddrell said.