Heads has played a part in the growth of the Ardbeg brand during his time at the distillery and he has also acted as chairman of the Ardbeg Committee, the brand’s following of fans across the world, a position he will retain for the next three years.
“Being at the helm of Ardbeg for 13 years has been a great privilege,” said Heads. “The whisky we make here is of wonderful quality, and being part of the team that creates it is fantastic.
“Ardbeg has such a long history, I’ve always seen myself as a custodian carrying it forward for the next generation. So, you just do it as well as you can, and with as much passion as you can.”
Thomas Moradpour, CEO of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “Mickey Heads is a hugely respected figure in the world of single malt whisky and will be sorely missed by Ardbeggians everywhere.
“There cannot be many distillery managers who combine such a wealth of knowledge, depth of passion and warmth of welcome. On behalf of everybody who has had the pleasure of meeting or working with Mickey, I want to express gratitude for all his hard work in maintaining the quality and reputation of the Ardbeg brand.”
