Ardbeg Uigeadail © The Glenmorangie Company

rdbeg Uigeadail, the single malt whisky from Ardbeg Distillery on the remote island of Islay, has been named "World Whisky of the year 2009".

This follows the success of the distillery's flagship expression Ardbeg Ten Years Old which scooped the same honour in 2008.

Launched in 2003, Ardbeg Uigeadail, bottled at a powerful 54.2% alcohol by volume, takes its name from the hill loch which supplies the peat-laden water to the distillery on Islay, and is famed for its deep, rich, smoky complexity.

The award comes with the publication of the sixth annual edition of whisky authority and writer Jim Murray's, "Whisky Bible".

A favourite with whisky aficionados, barmen and connoisseurs around the world Jim Murray has nosed and re-tasted a staggering 1500 whiskies over the past year. The Jim Murray "Whisky Bible 2009" contains 3,850 whisky tasting notes in all.

The dram was described as being "mind bogglingly complex", "quite simple: perfect" and of tasting Uigeadail: "one of the great moments in my whisky life".

Established in 1815, Ardbeg is the "Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky", revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts widely available. 

Its delicious sweetness, despite its smokiness, is a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as "the peaty paradox".

The abuse of alcohol is dangerous for the health. Please enjoy with moderation.

(Published on April 29, 2009)