Ardnahoe Chairmans Selection 6 year old Single Islay Malt Whisky 60,2%

When Stewart Laing died in the spring of 2026, he left behind more than a distillery on Islay's north-east coast. He left one last bottle, composed to his own taste, boxed with a personal letter written in his own hand.

Expert Description

Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky matured 6 years in sherry and bourbon casks and bottled at cask strength 60.2%.

This is a tribute release, composed to Stewart Laing's own specifications shortly before his death, and it carries his name as the final whisky he personally signed off on. Ardnahoe drew on older stock for this release and selected the distillery's most heavily peated spirit for the job - making Chairman's Selection the smokiest whisky Ardnahoe has bottled to date. The casks are predominantly first-fill sherry, topped up with bourbon, and the combination gives a depth not found elsewhere in the distillery's range. The whisky is neither chill-filtered nor coloured.

Ardnahoe was Islay's ninth distillery when the first spirit ran from the stills in October 2018 - the culmination of over 50 years in the whisky trade for Stewart Laing. The distillery runs Islay's only worm tub condensers alongside Scotland's longest lyne arms at 7.5 metres, giving the spirit weight and a creamy texture under the smoke from an early age.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peated smoke arrives first, followed by sea salt air and a dark, rich cocoa note.

Palate

The smoke deepens into an earthy, glowing intensity, joined by citrus from the sherry cask, honeyed malt and stewed plums.

Finish

Long and dry, with ash from burnt-out peat embers, cracked black pepper and a touch of salted caramel.

Specifications

Name: Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection
Distillery: Ardnahoe
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 6 Years
ABV: 60.2%
Size: 70 CL
Cask Type: Sherry and Bourbon Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Worm tub condensing (Islay's only) with 7.5-metre lyne arms
Edition: Chairman's Selection
EAN No.: 5060354290002

Distillery: Ardnahoe

Flavour Profile

Peated · Smoky · Sherry-matured · Complex · Spiced

Investment Potential

High. This is the final whisky Stewart Laing composed before his death, and only a strictly limited number of bottles have come to Denmark. The story and the personal signature make this a bottle collectors will hold onto - and prices on the international market have already climbed sharply since launch.

Did You Know?

Only 120 bottles of Chairman's Selection have been allocated to the Danish market - a fraction of an already tightly limited release.

Shop our full range of Ardnahoe

Listen to our podcast:

Frequently Asked Questions about Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection

What makes Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection special?

It's the last whisky Stewart Laing composed himself before he died in the spring of 2026. He founded Ardnahoe and led Hunter Laing & Co for over 50 years, and this bottle carries his own composition of sherry and bourbon casks as a direct tribute to what he wanted the distillery to stand for.

Is Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection worth the money?

Yes, both the history and the rarity speak for it. The bottle arrived in a strictly limited run direct from the distillery, sold out quickly, and the founder's personal signature makes it more than just another limited release.

What does Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection taste like?

Heavy peat smoke meets sherry sweetness and a tart fruit note of plums and citrus. It's the smokiest release Ardnahoe has made, and the cask strength of 60.2% makes the flavour intense and full-bodied.

Should you add water to Ardnahoe Chairman's Selection?

That's down to taste and occasion. At cask strength, a few drops of water can open up the sherry notes and take the edge off the alcohol slightly, but the whisky also works well neat for those who want the full power.

What glass suits a peated whisky like this?

A tulip-shaped nosing glass gathers the aromas and gives the smoke room to unfold. See our range of whisky glasses here.

Why does Ardnahoe use worm tubs for distillation?

It's unusual for a new distillery, but it gives the spirit a heavier, oilier character early in its life. Combined with long lyne arms, it helps shape the layered style Ardnahoe is known for.

What defines whisky from Islay in general?

Islay is home to some of Scotland's most peated and smoky whiskies, shaped by the island's peat bogs and salty coastal climate. Shop our full range of Islay Whisky here.

When was Ardnahoe distillery founded?

Ardnahoe opened in 2018 as Islay's ninth distillery and belongs to Hunter Laing & Co, the family firm Stewart Laing built after decades as an independent bottler.