Excerpts from issue 53/06 20 December 2025
Ardbeg wins Scotch Producer of the Year
In the same year that it opened a themed hotel in Port Ellen and appointed Bryony MacNiven as its first female manager, Ardbeg has been awarded 'Scotch whisky Producer of the Year' at The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC).
This coveted award is further recognition for Ardbeg, whose youngest whisky Ardbeg Wee Beastie was also recently crowned Best Overall Scotch at the New York World Spirits Competition (NYWSC). The IWSC triumph comes hot on the heels of Ardbeg's success at the NYWSC.
During the competition's blind tastings, Ardbeg Wee Beastie, the youngest whisky in its core range, was named the leading Scotch, as well as Best Distillers' Single Malt Scotch - 12 Years or less. On Ardbeg's Producer of the Year award, the IWSC said, "With each release, Ardbeg continues to redefine what it means to be an Islay malt; bold yet thoughtful, experimental yet true to its origins." Praising Ardbeg's "integrity", it called out recent experimental limited editions such as Ardbeg Eureka!, influenced by the Ardbeg's fanbase, and Ardbeg Smokiverse - which emerged from trials with high-gravity mashing. The awards body added, "Each is rooted in curiosity, but always grounded in the sensory honesty of the liquid itself".
Ardbeg's dedication to Islay was also hailed by the IWSC. "Ardbeg remains deeply committed to sustainability and to its island community. Through initiatives such as peatland restoration projects and the Ardbeg All Islay Fund, the Distillery continues to give back to the place that defines its whisky."
Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, Director of Whisky Creation, said, "We're delighted to have the dedication of our distillery recognised with these incredible awards. They are testament to the exceptional efforts which go into crafting the world's smokiest, peatiest, Islay single malt whisky. I hope they will inspire our team to go on creating exceptional flavours for smoky malt lovers to enjoy!"
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Bowmore Post Office
Islay Development Initiative has been awarded £72,069 by the Scottish Land Fund to purchase the old Visit Scotland iCentre in Bowmore. IDI intends to relocate Bowmore Post Office to the premises, allowing greater ease of access for customers.
Ian Storey, Acting Chair said, "This is a good opportunity for IDI to not only provide an accessible service to the community, but also springboard into a wider regeneration of Bowmore Square. We are delighted that the Scottish Land Fund chose to support this project in securing this building for community use. Our thanks to all that worked tirelessly to achieve this fantastic result."
IDI also announced that the final piece of funding for Bowmore Hall had come from the UK Government Community Regeneration Partnership Fund (£320,000) and the Scottish Government Islands Program (£100,000).
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In this week's issue:
Christmas Cover Competition winners, Crew changes at CalMac, Changes to the Visitor Levy, Council Leader's Christmas Message, Jenni Minto's Christmas Message, Repairs to the Waverley, Ardbeg is Scotch Producer of the Year, Islay & Jura Christmas services, Bowmore Post Office to move, High School Ceilidh Review, Port Charlotte, Small Isles and Port Ellen pantomime reviews, Islay Book Festival update, Mother and Baby Massage Club, John Donegan Trio album review, Christmas Greetings boxes.
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Music review
Interfuse. John Donegan Trio with Richie Buckley. Jayde records.
We have featured Irish jazz pianist, John Donegan, in these pages on a previous occasion (We Will Meet Again Sometime), and on this latest release, he revisits the trio format, but with the added contributions of saxophonist, Richie Buckley, whose soprano sax playing is reminiscent of a Weather Report Wayne Shorter, particularly on 'A Resolute Rose', where piano and sax sound as if they were made for each other.
For me, at least, this is the album's standout composition.
The remainder of the trio is bassist and producer, Bernard O'Neill and long-time associate, drummer, John Daly.
At the risk of incurring percussive wrath, I do think drummer John Daly has a tendency to overplay just a bit. On the Latin tinged, 'Rumba de Cuidad', clavé and shaker would surely have been sufficient, as in the opening few bars?
He redeems himself with solid brush playing on 'Sonorial' and provides almost effortless support to bassist, O’Neill, on the introduction to 'A Kite For Kate', before launching into a short solo, demonstrating an impressive fluidity.
In addition to soprano saxophone, Buckley's consumate tenor playing is incorporated to great effect on the opening 'Blues Jive' (a tune that shows the influence of Thelonious Monk right from the opening bars), and on the album's title track, 'Interfuse'.
However, the album's crowning glory is Donegan's piano playing; formidable without dominating, the solo outing, 'Song For Ciara' vies with 'A Resolute Rose' for favourite track.
It's all here: introspection, swing, melody, interplay; not all in every tune (though 'Five To One' comes close). Donegan has said he wants to keep his own music interesting, for himself and the rest of us. He’ll be happy to know he appears to have achieved that.
bp
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