The Islay-born whisky industry icon, who has 53 years’ experience under his belt, has been hired by Hunter Laing & Co, the family-run Glasgow whisky company behind Ardnahoe, the first distillery to be built on Islay for more than a decade. Jim McEwan, the former master distiller of Bruichladdich, has come out of retirement to help establish Islay’s newest distillery. Islay’s ninth distillery will feature wooden washbacks, copper pot stills and traditional worm tubs to create a number of different whiskies in the ‘classic Islay style’, and will ‘stay true to the island’s heritage’ with a heavily peated malt. In anticipation of what is bound to be one of the most beautiful distilleries on Islay, Ardnahoe (Hunter Laing & Co.) , legendary Bowmore/Bruichladdich Master Distiller, and local lad, Jim McEwan, will be hosting two tastings at Ballygrant Village Hall on M Home; ... A Message from Jim McEwan. Big Score for Ardnahoe: Jim McEwan joins the team. He will also host a tasting of old Islay whiskies owned by Hunter Laing during the Islay Festival (26 May – 3 June). However the theme taped into substance even more than style… paying tribute to whisky veteran Jim McEwan. Jim McEwan is coming out of retirement to join Ardnahoe distillery. Hunter Laing export director Andrew Laing described Ardnahoe’s style as ‘a new take on a classical Islay whisky’. Jim believed this was an offer he could not refuse, an offer too good to be true and he accepted it with pride. The independent bottler has revealed plans to build an £8 million malt whisky distillery on Islay. Both the shape and size of the stills were determined by Jim McEwan, who was lured out of retirement to help establish Islay’s newest distillery. Johnnie Walker. 2017 Former Bruichladdich master distiller Jim McEwan joins Ardnahoe as production director October 2018 The stills begin running with spirit April 2019 Ardnahoe officially opens to visitors Ardnahoe Facts. Bruichladdich’s former master distiller will shape the whisky of Islay’s newest distillery. A very entertaining evening indeed.. not everyone has … World-renowned whisky distiller Jim McEwan has been appointed Production Director of the newest distillery on Islay - 18 months after he retired. McEwan, who left Bruichladdich in July 2015 after 15 years, has joined Ardnahoe distillery as production director with responsibility for shaping its whisky style. Jim McEwan joins Islay’s Ardnahoe distillery. Distillery & brand. The independent bottler has revealed plans to build an £8 million malt whisky distillery on Islay. Ardnahoe Distillery has already received planning approval and construction on site has already begun. People also like. Hand-picked by legendary distiller Jim McEwan (formerly of Bruichladdich and Bowmore), these whiskies represent the best and rarest examples of Islay spirit. Director Greg Swartz in conversation with Master Distiller Jim McEwan (Bowmore Distillery, Bruichladdich Distillery, Ardnahoe Distillery, Cape Byron Distillery),… Hunter Laing & Co appoints Jim McEwan. McEwan said: ‘The whisky we’re going to make at Ardnahoe will look back to move forward: we’ll be distilling slowly, by hand and without computers. FULL INTERVIEW: Jim McEwan reveals plans for Islay’s ninth distllery, including the island's first worm tubs, Ardnahoe's signature style plus the (eventual) release of a single malt called the Ardnahoe Whisper. A central thread in the film revolved around Bruichladdich’s master distiller, Jim McEwan, who was nearing retirement after 52 years in the business. View All. Jim McEwan has been appointed master distiller of the new site. Jim McEwan in connection with the currently under construction Ardnahoe distillery overlooking the Sound of Islay. Hunter Laing & Co., a family-run independent whisky bottler, is currently building Ardnahoe distillery on the northeast coast of Islay. The whisky was selected by Jim, and will be available for sampling at his tasting sessions during, Feis (see our earlier post on those events). Tags: hunter laing amp distillery ardnahoe distillery. Following a £12 million investment from family-run whisky business Hunter Laing & Company, Ardnahoe distillery is run by master distiller Jim McEwan … Ardnahoe’s new-make spirit exhibits typical Islay characteristics of peat smoke and bonfire notes, coming from the Subscribe to the latest news from Ardnahoe Distillery. If you cannot make it to Islay during the next time, we can give you a first insight into the Ardnahoe distillery : The following pictures have been kindly provided for publication by Hunter Laing. But what it lacks for in size, it certainly makes up for in the number of distilleries it has nestled on its shores, boasting a total of eight whisky makers. Veteran whisky distiller Jim McEwan joins Ardnahoe Posted on 01/02/2017 Jim McEwan, former Master Distiller at Bruichladdich, has been lured out of retirement to head up production at the new Ardnahoe Distillery – the first distillery to be built on Islay in over a decade. Please bear with us, we're working on it. Andrew Laing, director of Hunter Laing & Co, said: ‘The three of us are hugely impressed with the whiskies [Jim’s] produced in the past and can sleep easy knowing that he is in ultimate charge of whisky-making at Ardnahoe.’. The ‘mysterious’ whisky is the first expression in Hunter Laing’s new range. He discusses the privilege it was to be a part of such a significant project, and wishes the family all the luck with the ongoing development of Ardnahoe. Enter your email address below to keep updated with the latest news from Scotchwhisky.com, Distilling deal: Jim McEwan will help shape Islay's ninth distillery and is pictured here with Andrew, Stewart and Scott Laing. Jim McEwan reveals Ardnahoe distillery plans. With an area of only 620km2 (ok, 619.6km2 if you want to be precise) Islay isn’t exactly a huge place. THE KINSHIP NIGHT. I’ve done weird and wonderful casks in the past, but I’ll keep it simple and rely on the art of distillation and quality of oak for a unique, authentic taste.’, ‘Most beautiful location’: Ardnahoe distillery will look out toward the Paps of Jura ​. The first runs of distillation at Ardnahoe commenced in October last year, with the first cask filled on the ninth of November. I saw Anthony and Kathy Wills from Kilchoman Distillery, The Boss himself, Master Distiller Jim McEwan. They also mark the creation of Laing’s brand new distillery “Ardnahoe” which is situated on the shores of the Sound of … Ardnahoe will be the third Islay distillery McEwan has produced whisky for, having spent 38 years at Bowmore prior to taking up his position with Bruichladdich. The first runs of distillation at Ardnahoe commenced in October last year, with the first cask filled on the ninth of November. With an area of only 620km2 (ok, 619.6km2 if you want to be precise) Islay isn’t exactly a huge place. The biggest, and most iconic, blended Scotch whisky is recognisable the world over. “We kissed a lot of frogs on the road to Ardnahoe,” said Scott. Guests range around the flowing circular reception desk, chatting leisurely. Jim McEwan will be hosting 2 very special tastings during this year's Feis Ile Festival. World-renowned whisky distiller Jim McEwan has been appointed Production Director of Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay – 18 months after he retired. 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