Port Ellen
Port Ellen is a famous Islay distillery that closed in 1983, whose remaining peated stock became highly collectable. Owner Diageo rebuilt it and restarted distilling in 2024.
- Country
- GB-SCT
- Region
- Islay
- Founded
- 1825
- Owner
- Diageo
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Port Ellen distillery stands in the village of Port Ellen on the south coast of Islay. It dates from the 1820s and was closed in 1983 during a downturn in the whisky industry, when most of its buildings were later removed. The large Port Ellen maltings next door kept running and still supply malted barley to many Islay distilleries.
In the years after closure, the peaty, coastal and often quite oily spirit left in casks gained a strong following, and Port Ellen became one of the most sought-after names among collectors. Owner Diageo rebuilt the distillery, and spirit has been running again since 2024, though the bottles a buyer meets today come from the old stock distilled before 1983.
Official bottlings include the annual Special Releases, such as the 28 Year Old 1979 7th Release and the 31 Year Old 1978 10th Release, and later very old limited releases such as the 9 Rogue Casks 40 Year Old. Prices for these are high and rise as stock runs out.
Port Ellen was also widely bottled by independent bottlers, especially in the 1990s and 2000s when casks were easier to find. Our catalogue includes bottlings from Douglas Laing (Old Malt Cask, Old Particular and Provenance), Hunter Laing, Gordon & MacPhail, Murray McDavid, Malts of Scotland, Hart Brothers, That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Master of Malt. Many are single casks, so check the vintage, age and cask details carefully when comparing.
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Port Ellen
Port Ellen 1983 - Authors' Series - Alfred Tennyson
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) Gemini Set Islay Single Malt Scotch 1978 44 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) Connoisseurs Choice Single Malt Scotch 1970 17 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Single Cask # 1981 42 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) Eidolon Islay Single Malt - Second Release 1982 40 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) Gleann Mor Rare Find Single Cask 1983 33 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) 9 Rogue Casks Islay Single Malt Scotch 1979 40 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) Signatory Vintage Ceramic Decanter Islay Single Ma 13 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) 4th Release Islay Single Malt Scotch 1978 25 year old Whisky
Port Ellen
Port Ellen (silent) 11th Release Islay Single Malt Scotch 1979 32 year old Whisky
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About whiskies
Whisky (or whiskey) is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains are used including barley, corn, rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, which gives it its distinctive color and complex flavor profile.
Each bottling represents a unique expression with specific characteristics like age, cask type, and alcohol strength.
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