About
Perhaps the most legendary silent distillery in whisky history, Port Ellen was founded in 1825 on Islay's south coast and closed by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 during the great whisky loch. Its remaining casks became the ultimate collector's items -- Port Ellen annual releases from Diageo's Special Releases series are among the most sought-after bottles on earth, with prices reaching five figures. The distillery's smoky, maritime, elegantly peated character set it apart from Islay neighbors Lagavulin and Laphroaig. Diageo announced its reopening alongside Brora in 2017, investing 35 million pounds. The Port Ellen Maltings -- the massive malting facility adjacent to the distillery that supplies peated malt to most of Islay's distilleries -- continued operating throughout. The new distillery is being designed to honor Port Ellen's original character while incorporating modern production. When it reopens, it will be one of the most anticipated events in whisky history.