Single malt Ardberg is World Whiskey of the Year

A unique Scotch single malt has been named World Whisky of the Year by a distinguished guide.

Ardbeg scotch whisky fought off strong competition from some of the best known spirits to become the first single malt to receive the accolade.

Jim Murray, Whisky Bible 2008 author who awarded the honour to the 10-year-old single malt, praised the drink as a unique product.

He said in his guide: “To me Ardbeg is – and always has been – the most complex malt on earth.”

He added: “I have been visiting the distillery for nearly 30 years – long before anybody had heard of Ardbeg.

“And because I have long regarded this as the finest distillery in the world, I actually try to handicap the sample to iron out any natural bias.”

Ardbeg has been produced since 1815 on the Isle of Islay, off the west coast of Scotland, a site famous for its many whisky distilleries.

The 10-year-old dram was also awarded the Whisky Bible 2008’s Scotch Single Malt of the Year title.