In a landmark moment for Scotch whisky, Port Ellen Distillery, on the world-famous whisky island of Islay, reopened today with a bold vision to be a trailblazing light for the future of whisky distillation.
Perhaps the most legendary of all the so-called “ghost” distilleries that closed in Scotland more than 40 years ago, the rebirth of Port Ellen has been eagerly anticipated across the global whisky community.
Port Ellen represents the final chapter in the £185 million investment by parent company Diageo, which has also seen the reopening of the other famous “ghost” distillery Brora, as well as investment in the company’s Scotch whisky visitor experiences.
Drawing on Port Ellen’s extraordinary heritage as one of the most pioneering distilleries of the 19th century, the new distillery has been designed from the ground up to push the boundaries of innovation, experimentation and sustainability.
The striking new distillery building features ultra-modern design with an unobstructed line of sight through the glass stillhouse to the stunning coastline of Islay, across the bay to Carraig Fhada lighthouse.
At the heart of the distillery are two pairs of copper stills. The first pair - The Phoenix Stills - are precise replicas of the original Port Ellen stills and will distil the classic smoky liquid that has made Port Ellen single malt one of the most highly sought after whiskies in the world. The second pair – The Experimental Stills – will take the art and science of whisky exploration to levels of precision never before seen in Scotch whisky distillation.
Still house at Port Ellen Distillery
The Experimental Stills are linked to a signature Ten Part Spirit Safe –a truly innovative piece of distilling equipment - that allows the Port Ellen whisky makers unprecedented opportunity for experimentation. While standard distillery spirit safes allow for three cuts of the spirit run – the head, the heart and the tails - the Port Ellen Ten Part Spirit Safe allows multiple cuts to be drawn from the heart of the run, accessing previously unexplored flavours and characters, and takes the whisky-making art to new levels of intricacy and complexity. The distillery has a dedicated on-site laboratory and a full-time laboratory technician to analyse and catalogue the new experimental whiskies that emerge.
In line with Diageo’s commitment to be carbon neutral in its direct production business globally by 2030, Port Ellen will be carbon neutral from the start, with every part of the distillation process optimised so that water and heat are both recycled, and all energy produced by a renewable-biofuel boiler.
Ewan Andrew, Diageo president of global supply chain and procurement, and chief sustainability officer, officially announced the opening during a ceremony at the distillery.
He said: “This is a landmark moment for Diageo and for Scotch Whisky. Port Ellen is rooted in the land and the people of Islay, yet it is a name that resonates around the world as a watchword for quality single malt Scotch whisky.
“Port Ellen has a proud heritage of leading innovation and experimentation and we have been true to that legacy in the reborn Port Ellen, creating a distillery grounded in tradition but prepared to be a trailblazing new light in the firmament of the Scotch whisky universe.”
Ali McDonald, Master Distiller at Port Ellen said of the return: “It is an honour to take up this new position at the helm of an iconic distillery and build on Port Ellen’s pioneering past. Port Ellen holds a very special place in the hearts of passionate whisky aficionados, and to see spirit flow off these stills once again is an incredible moment for the Islay community and wider whisky world. We are deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of Scotch through experimentation. I’m excited to see what we can now create.”
Aimée Morrison, Port Ellen Master Blender, spoke of the future of the distillery and its whisky: “Port Ellen will be defined as a distillery that will push boundaries, with our on-site laboratory giving us the opportunity to delve into scientific research, offering us a deeper look into this Islay malt. We will better understand how the nuanced flavours from cask-to-cask shine in different ways; with the rolling smoke weaving its way through the heart of Port Ellen. Collectively we will endeavour to maintain the undeniable quality of Port Ellen, create whiskies for the future and take the amazing opportunity to learn as much as we can about the enigma of smoke.”
From today, Port Ellen Gemini, a new special release to celebrate the rebirth of the trailblazing Islay distillery, is available to purchase. Presented in spectacular crystal decanters, Port Ellen Gemini presents twin 44-Year-Old Scotch Whiskies, drawn from three exceptional 1978 European oak casks.
Port Ellen distillery will welcome the whisky community, connoisseurs, collectors and invited guests to experience the wonders of the new distillery. Available to book from June, the experiences range from a full day private immersion for connoisseurs, to shorter introductions to the production process. Port Ellen will also open its doors on the first Saturday of every month for anyone on Islay to visit and witness Port Ellen spirit be crafted once again.
The distillery brand home also features works by award winning artists, including multiple Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (of which Diageo is a long-term supporter) scholars Lucy May Schofield, Fung + Bedford, Eleanor Lakelin, and Harry Morgan, Daniel Brophy and Object studio.
Simon Hannah
