Port Ellen

Sitting on the shores of Kilnaughton Bay sits Port Ellen distillery, a beloved piece of history belonging to the Isle of Islay.

Originally established in 1825 as a malt mill, Port Ellen was acquired by John Ramsay in 1833 who began work to develop the mill into a functioning whisky distillery. In 1925, the Distillers Company Limited then acquired the site.

From here, the distillery experienced a period of flux. 1930 marked its first closure wherein it lay dormant for over 30 years. In the 1960s the distillery was rebuilt, yet a second closure lurked around the corner and, come 1983, the distillery fell silent once more.

Bottles had been accrued while the distillery was in production, but post-closure the stock was finite and dwindled further as Port Ellen’s reputation grew. Connoisseurs coveted the amber liquid, wishing to savour a piece of the distillery’s history while it still lasted.

However, 2024 marked a turning point. After a period of reconstruction, on the 19th of March the distillery opened its gates once more. To mark the occasion, Port Ellen Gemini was created. The set of two bottles comprise the oldest ever single malt Scotch whisky released from Port Ellen. The 44-year-old whisky has been drawn from three exceptional 1978 European oak casks, specifically selected long ago for this new experiment, before being split into two whiskies which took diverging paths of maturation. With just 274 available, Port Ellen’s covetable reputation has been cemented.

Today, Port Ellen basks in its iconic history and well-earned reputation. Visitors flock to its site, soaking up the Islay ambience and indulging in tastings guided by those who know the distillery’s history best.