Port-Ellen Distillery

In the world of single malt Scotch whisky, there are few names that inspire as much awe and fascination as Port Ellen. This disused distillery on the rugged island of Islay has long since become a legend whose whiskies are among the most sought-after and expensive in the world. With its unmistakably smoky, peaty character, Port Ellen epitomises the wild spirit of Islay like no other distillery. But its story is also one of rise, closure and finally resurrection - a whisky fairy tale that continues to fascinate collectors and connoisseurs to this day.

The early years: foundation and first heyday

The origins of Port Ellen date back to 1825, when businessman Alexander Kerr Mackay founded the distillery on the south coast of Islay. The location was ideally chosen: The small harbour town of Port Ellen not only offered access to fresh water and high-quality barley, but also to the important trade routes for whisky exports. In the early decades, the distillery produced a strong, peaty malt that was typical of the island's whiskies, but Port Ellen ran into financial difficulties in the late 19th century and was temporarily shut down in 1920.

It was not until 1967, after several changes of ownership, that the distillery experienced a renaissance. The then owner, the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), modernised the plant and developed it into one of the most advanced distilleries in Scotland. Port Ellen now became known primarily for its malt supplies to other Islay distilleries, but also continued to produce its own single malt.

The unmistakable style: smoke, peat and maritime elegance

What makes Port Ellen so special is its unique flavour profile. In contrast to other Islay malts such as Ardbeg or Laphroaig, which are often extremely medicinal and aggressively smoky, Port Ellen impresses with its balanced complexity. The whiskies from the 1970s and early 1980s - now known as the "Golden Era" - combine intense peaty notes with an astonishing finesse. Flavours of burnt wood, dried fruit, leather and a salty sea breeze make these bottlings true masterpieces.

A decisive factor in this character was the use of local Islay peat, which was used to kiln the barley. The smoke from this peat gave the whisky its distinctive flavour, while the long maturation in ex-bourbon and sherry casks provided depth and balance.

The closure in 1983 and the birth of a legend

Despite its quality, Port Ellen met the same fate as many other Scottish distilleries in the 1980s: The whisky crisis, triggered by overproduction and falling demand, led to its final closure in 1983. Some of the disused buildings were demolished and the remaining casks were moved to other warehouses.

However, unlike many other closed distilleries, the Port Ellen legend only continued to grow after the closure. The remaining bottlings from the 1970s and early 1980s became sought-after collector's items, with prices regularly breaking records at auctions. Diageo's official rare releases in particular, which came onto the market in limited series from 2001, became icons of the whisky world.

The rebirth: Port Ellen returns

After decades of standstill, Diageo announced a sensation in 2017: Port Ellen was to be reopened. As part of a multi-million euro project that also included the revitalisation of Brora, construction work began on the historic site. The distillery was finally reopened in spring 2024 - with state-of-the-art technology, but with strict adherence to its traditional character.

The new Port Ellen is deliberately focussing on continuity: the stills have been faithfully recreated and the famous peat content is also intended to match the classic style. However, it will be years before the first new whiskies are ready for the market. Until then, the old bottlings remain the only way to experience the legendary flavour of Port Ellen.