Port Ellen Distillery

Port Ellen was established as a malt mill in 1825 by a Mr Gilchrist. John Ramsay of Kildalton — a merchant and later Member of Parliament — acquired the facility and developed it as a full distillery from 1833, operating it until his death in 1892. The warehouses Ramsay constructed during this period remain as category-listed buildings. The Distillers Company (DCL) acquired Port Ellen in 1925.

The distillery closed in 1930, underwent major reconstruction in 1966–67, and then ran continuously through the 1970s until the British recession prompted closure in 1983. When DCL mothballed operations, they demolished some buildings, repurposed others, and — crucially — destroyed the copper pot stills. The facility was officially declared closed in 1987 with equipment dismantled. An agreement signed in 1987 gave the Port Ellen Maltings a dedicated role supplying peated malt to all Islay distilleries, a function it continues to this day independently of the distillery.

The remaining casks of pre-1983 Port Ellen whisky became objects of intense collector desire as stocks dwindled through annual Diageo Special Release bottlings. Annual releases of 30-, 32-, and 35-year-old expressions commanded ever-increasing prices at auction. Diageo announced the revival of Port Ellen (alongside Brora) in October 2017, committing £35 million initially; total final costs reached £185 million. New stills were recreated using factory records from the 1980s with assistance from former employees. The distillery reopened on 19 March 2024. In September 2025, the Port Ellen 200th Anniversary Edition was released — 150 bottles worldwide at £7,500 each.

The revived Port Ellen distillery was designed using Diageo's research into original production records and consultation with former Port Ellen employees. New stills were cast to match the original designs as closely as possible. The distillery operates on Islay using the island's characteristic heavily peated malt supply from the adjacent Port Ellen Maltings. The maturation of the first new-make spirit from 2024 will require many years before aged releases become available.

Pre-1983 Port Ellen is celebrated for a particularly refined, complex Islay peated character — smoky yet elegant, with distinctive waxy, floral, and maritime notes that set it apart from the more heavily smoky profiles of Ardbeg or Laphroaig. The whisky's rarity has only amplified its legendary status. The character of new-make spirit from the 2024 restart will not be fully known until matured releases appear.

[!question] Gap — tasting notes for new-make production (2024–) will require updating once matured whisky is released commercially.

Immersive tours and tastings are available by appointment only — no walk-in visitors. Physical shop on site; no online shop. For up-to-date visiting information, see the official website.