 | |
| Region: Islay | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Diageo |
| Founded | 1825 |
| Status | Active |
| Water source | Leorin Lochs |
| No. of stills | 2 wash 2 spirit |
| Capacity | 2.7 ML |
| Mothballed | 1983 - 2024 |
Port Ellen distillery is located in Port Ellen on the isle of Islay, Scotland.
Port Ellen distillery reopened in 2024 after being closed since 1983.
Port Ellen was established as a malt mill in 1825, and then developed as a distillery under John Ramsay from 1833 to 1892. The warehouses he built still exist and are listed buildings. [1]
The distillery was acquired by The Distillers Company (DCL) in 1925, was closed in 1930 and rebuilt in 1966/1967. It continued in production throughout the 1970s and was closed in 1983, although supplies of its single malt whisky are still available. [2]
When Port Ellen was closed in 1983, DCL did knock down some of the buildings, repurposed others, and destroyed the stills. The distillery houses a malting which continues to supply all Islay distilleries, as per an agreement signed in 1987. The dwindling stocks of Port Ellen whisky, due to the closing of the distillery, became a collectors item. [3]
On 9 October 2017 Diageo, DCL successor, announced that the distillery would reopen in 2020, following a £35 million investment in re-opening both Port Ellen and also their closed Brora distillery in Sutherland, which also closed in 1983. [4] Diageo suggested the first new release might be of a 12 year old expression, i.e., in 2032, but have left the door open for possibly earlier releases. On 8 May 2019, Diageo submitted plans to revive the distillery, and to build a new stillhouse. [5] Diageo say they are going to considerable efforts to recreate as similar as possible new stills, and point to factory records from the 1980s, and have former Port Ellen employees working for them elsewhere on Islay to assist in an accurate recreation of the Port Ellen style. [4]
The Distillery build is currently under the management of Alexander McDonald, an Islay resident with previous positions held in Kilchoman, Lagavulin and Caol Ila distillery. [6] As of 2022 [update] plans are for the distillery to reopen in 2023. [3]
In 2022, a rare 1979 cask of Port Ellen whisky was auctioned by Sotheby's for £875,000. It was sold in a lot which included an artwork in Murano glass by artist and designer Ini Archibong. Diageo announced that five percent of the hammer price would be donated to support Care International's work in Ukraine. [7] [8]
In 19 March 2024, Port Ellen distillery reopened 40 years after having been closed and undergoing a £185 million (US$235m) restoration. [9]
Scotch whisky, often simply called whisky or Scotch, is malt whisky or grain whisky made in Scotland.
Islay single malts are the single malt Scotch whiskies made on Islay or Ìle in Gaelic, one of the southernmost of the Inner Hebridean Islands located off the west coast of Scotland. Islay is one of five whisky distilling localities and regions in Scotland whose identity is protected by law.
Talisker distillery is an island single malt Scotch whisky distillery based in Carbost, Scotland on the Minginish Peninsula on the Isle of Skye.
Diageo plc is a British multinational alcoholic beverage company, with its headquarters in London, England. It operates from 132 sites around the world. It is a major distributor of Scotch whisky and other spirits. Distilleries owned by Diageo produce 40 percent of all Scotch whisky with over 24 brands, such as Johnnie Walker, J&B and Old Parr.
Lagavulin distillery is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in the village of Lagavulin on the south of the island of Islay, Scotland.
Bowmore distillery is a Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery located on the Isle of Islay, an island of the Inner Hebrides.
Laphroaig distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery on Islay, Scotland. It is situated on the south coast of the island, near Port Ellen, at the head of a small bay known as Loch Laphroaig. The Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries are close by.
Ardbeg distillery is an Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Ardbeg on the South coast of the isle of Islay, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, in the Inner Hebrides group of islands.
The Classic Malts of Scotland is a selection of six single malt whiskies, launched and marketed together in 1988 by United Distillers and Vintners which is now owned by Diageo. They are often displayed together in bars and liquor stores. Diageo has since marketed other single malt labels and expressions with the Classic Malts labeling. The six original malts are:
Springbank distillery is a family-owned single malt whisky distillery on the Kintyre Peninsula in western Scotland. It is owned by J & A Mitchell & Company, which also owns the Glengyle distillery, the oldest independent bottler, William Cadenheads, and several blended scotch labels.
Kilchoman distillery is a distillery that produces single malt Scotch whisky on Islay, an island of the Inner Hebrides. Kilchoman Distillery is in the northwest of the island, close to Machir Bay. Kilchoman was founded by Anthony Wills and remains an independent, family run distillery. It is the smallest on the island but since obtaining Rockside Farm in 2015, is in the process of expanding.
Caol Ila distillery is a Scotch whisky distillery near Port Askaig on the isle of Islay, Scotland, owned by Diageo.
Rosebank Distillery is a Lowland single malt Scotch whisky distillery situated in Camelon on the banks of the Forth and Clyde canal between Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Benromach distillery is a Speyside distillery founded by Duncan McCallum and F.W. Brickman in 1898 and currently owned and run by Gordon and Macphail of Elgin. It is situated near Forres in Morayshire and is fed with spring water from the Chapelton Springs in the Romach Hills beside Forres.
Port Charlotte distillery is a inactive Islay single malt Scotch whisky distillery on the island of Islay, off the west coast of Scotland.
Clynelish distillery is a distillery near Brora, Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland.
Brora distillery is a Highland single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Brora, Scotland. It operated between 1819 and 1983 before being mothballed until 2021, when it was reactivated.
Dallas Dhu distillery is a inactive Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery located in Forres, Moray, Scotland.
Mortlach distillery is a Speyside single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Dufftown, Moray, Scotland. Founded in 1823, the distillery is owned by Diageo. The whisky is a key component in several Johnnie Walker bottlings, and Diageo also markets four Mortlach single malts.
Douglas Laing & Co is an independent bottler of Scotch whisky. Based in Glasgow, Scotland and established in 1948, the company has a number of brands including its "Remarkable Regional Malts" range, encompassing The Epicurean, Timorous Beastie, Scallywag, Rock Island and Big Peat, as well as Old Particular, Provenance and Xtra Old Particular, which they collectively call their "Exceptional Single Casks". The firm also creates and sells King of Scots Blended Scotch Whisky, Clan Denny Single Casks and Premier Barrel.
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