Ardmore
Full Highlands food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
A large Aberdeenshire distillery founded in 1898 to supply the growing Teacher's blended Scotch brand. Unusually peated for an eastern Highland malt — the 'Ardmore Legacy' and 'Traditional' bottlings are both light-smoke profiles that offer a gentler entry to peated whisky than Islay.
Ardmore is an unusual eastern Highland malt — unusually peated for its geography, producing the smoky backbone of Teacher's Scotch for over a century. The Legacy (lightly peated, unpeated finish) is the standard entry; the Traditional Cask (non-chill-filtered, quarter-cask aged) is the more interesting expression. A cult favourite for those who know it.
Core range
Legacy
40% ABV · Ex-bourbon + virgin oak; lightly peated
One of the few Highland malts that's significantly peated. Affordable smoky Highland — much-recommended as an introduction to peat.
- Nose:
- Soft peat, vanilla, oak, faint citrus.
- Palate:
- Light peat — smoke, vanilla, oak, gentle fruit.
- Finish:
- Medium, smoky, clean.
Traditional Cask
46% ABV · Ex-bourbon + quarter cask finish; lightly peated
Stepped-up Ardmore with quarter cask finish. More body than the Legacy.
- Nose:
- Peat, oak, vanilla, faint salt.
- Palate:
- Richer — peat, oak spice, vanilla, gentle malt.
- Finish:
- Long, smoky, drying.
Character & reputation
Ardmore, at Kennethmont in Aberdeenshire, was founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher to supply malt for the Teacher's Highland Cream blend, of which it remains the principal component. It is owned by Beam Suntory. Unusually for an eastern Highland distillery, much of its make is peated, around 12 to 14 ppm using Aberdeenshire peat, giving a smoke character generally described as soft and heathery rather than coastal or medicinal. Official single malts include the Legacy and Traditional bottlings, positioned as a gentle entry to peated whisky. Among enthusiasts Ardmore has a reputation as an underrated, under-the-radar malt offering good value, with the make documented for heather-honey and toffee sweetness beneath the smoke.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional Cask | Smoked venison or game terrine | Peated Highland spirit suits the robust game of Aberdeenshire. |
Getting there
Car. Kennethmont on the B9002, 30 min south of Huntly, Aberdeenshire.
Where to eat nearby
- Huntly town centreArea
30 min north — basic facilities.
Where to stay near Ardmore
Ardmore is near Kennethmont, 8 miles south of Huntly in Aberdeenshire. Huntly is the closest town with B&Bs and a hotel. Inverurie (20 miles south) has better accommodation choice and rail connections to Aberdeen (30 min). This is a working distillery with limited visitor access; combine with GlenDronach or Knockdhu for an Aberdeenshire whisky day.
NTS holiday cottage nearby.
Where to stay near Ardmore
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Ardmore.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Kennethmont, Huntly, Aberdeenshire, AB54 4NH
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+Why is Ardmore peated?
Teacher's Scotch (the primary use of Ardmore spirit) has always been a smoky blend — Ardmore was built with peat in mind to deliver that character.
+Is Ardmore open to visitors?
No — production facility in Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, not open to visitors. The remote rural setting is the spirit's character rather than a visitor draw.
+Where is Ardmore distillery?
Ardmore is in the Highlands. Postcode AB54.
+When was Ardmore distillery founded?
Ardmore was founded in 1898, making it roughly 128 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
The peated eastern Highland character is closest to BenRiach Smoke Season or Loch Lomond Croftengea.
Loch Lomond
Unusually for a single distillery, Loch Lomond produces an enormous range of styles thanks to its straight-necked lomond stills — allowing it to make single malt, single grain, and peated spirit on one site. Now widely stocked in UK supermarkets after a decade of rebranding under the Loch Lomond Group.
BenRiach
One of the most experimental distilleries in Speyside — making peated, unpeated and triple-distilled spirit on the same site, and famous for adventurous wine-cask finishes.
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