Ardmore Distillery was established in 1898 by William Teacher & Sons, the same company behind the well-known Teacher's Highland Cream blended whisky. The distillery was initially built to supply the Teacher’s blended whisky, which was immensely popular at the time.
Ardmore is situated in the northern part of the Highlands, near the town of Kennethmont, which is northeast of Aberdeen. It sits on the edge of the Mearns and Aberdeenshire, an area that provides pure water and a cool climate, ideal for whisky maturation.
The distillery was acquired by the Japanese drinks company Suntory in 2014 as part of its purchase of the Beam Inc. portfolio, which also included brands like Jim Beam, Laphroaig, and Bowmore. Suntory’s ownership has resulted in greater exposure and international recognition for Ardmore, with an increasing focus on its single malt offerings.
Ardmore employs traditional pot stills and malted barley for its whisky production. The distillery also uses a mixture of ex-bourbon casks and sherry casks for maturation, which imparts both the distinctive smokiness and a more balanced, complex character with notes of dried fruit, spice, and sweetness.
