Ardbeg 1990 Connoisseurs Choice

Ardbeg 1990 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Bottled 2001 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Connoisseurs Choice series.

An independent bottling of Ardbeg for the Connoiseurs Choice range. The spirit was distilled shortly after the distillery’s late 1980s/early 1990s revival and bottled in 2001.

Size- 70cl

Strength- 40%

Starting bid: £700.00

Item condition: New

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Start On: March 20, 2025 10:00 am

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Ending On: March 26, 2025 3:00 pm

Ardbeg 1990 Connoisseurs Choice

The Ardbeg distillery has been producing whisky since 1798, and began commercial production in 1815. Like most Scottish distilleries, for most of its history its whisky was produced for use in blended whisky, rather than as a single malt. By 1886 the distillery was producing 300,000 gallons of whisky per year, and employed 60 workers.

Production was halted in 1981, but resumed on a limited basis in 1989 and continued at a low level until late 1996; during the period Ardbeg was owned by Hiram Walker. In 1997 the distillery was bought and reopened by Glenmorangie plc (which was subsequently acquired by the French company LVMH on 28 December 2004).

Production resumed 25 June 1997, and full production resumed in 1998. The distillery was reopened by Ed Dodson in 1997 and handed over to Stuart Thomson, who managed it from 1997 to 2006. Michael “Mickey” Heads, an Islay native and former manager at Jura who had worked at Ardbeg years earlier, took over on 12 March 2007. Colin Gordon has followed in his footsteps in August 2020.

In July 2022, the distillery sold a 1975 cask to a private collector for £16 million, beating Macallan’s record for the highest cask selling price.

Production

The distillery output is quite large for a distillery with only two pot stills. The wash still has a capacity of about 18,000 litres, and the spirit still a capacity of about 17,000 litres. This produces approximately 10,000 barrels (1.4 million liters) of spirit per year. The distillery employs about sixty people and also provides them with accommodation on site. Since 2018, a new still house is under construction, which will double Ardbeg’s distilling capacity.

In 2011, 20 vials of Ardbeg spirit and wood particles were sent to the International Space Station to investigate their interaction. They returned on 12 September 2014.

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All of our whisky is sourced from private collections and is sold by private sellers. As a result, the right to reject (section 20 of the Consumer Rights Act) does not apply.

Goods from private sellers do not have to be fault-free and photographs are taken of all lots in order to accurately represent each item sold at auction and show any faults or damage to the bottles and boxes. If you have any concerns or questions then please contact us using to contact form above.

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Due to the various ages of bottles and their seals no claim can be lodged against leakage in transit.

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