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Port Ellen Scotch Whisky

Distillery Information

Founded in 1825 by Alexander Mackay
Location Islay region South shore district
Water source Leorin Lochs
Mothballed in 1983 equipment believed to be dismantled and removed

Port Ellen Scotch Whisky Distillery History

Located 1 mile west of Laphroig the distillery was founded in 1825 by Alexander Mackay shortly afterwards became bankrupt. The distillery remained in the Mackay
Family.

In 1836 the distillery was sold to John Ramsay. He pioneered export to the USA, developed the spirit safe and persuaded the government to allow Islay whiskies to be bonded free of duty.

Also under John Ramsey the distillery was the location of some of the earliest experiments into continuous distillation with both Stein and Coffey, Originators of Grain whisky distillation.

Port Ellen Distillery Co. Ltd acquired the distillery in 1920. They in turn were taken over by DCL in 1927and subsequently mothballed in the 1930 slump in trade.

It was reopened in 1967 by DCL (present owners) the number of stills doubled to four.

A Large malting facility was built opposite the distillery in 1973

The distillery was mothballed in the great whisky cull of 1983.

The site is now warehousing for DCLs' other Islay distilleries. It is also home of a large malt plant, which supplies the remaining distilleries on the island, thanks to an official agreement signed to secure employment for the island’s workforce.

Port Ellen has been closed for 24 years so bottlings of this rare and Iconic Islay malt are becoming very short in supply.

Lightly phenolic, peat smoke with iodine, Gentler than the other 3 southshore distilleries. Complex, oily, peppery, salty, herbal, medicinal, clean and firm.

Port Ellen Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery Bottlings

Annual releases
Port Ellen 22 years old 1978 - 56.2% 6000 bottles released 2001
Port Ellen 22 years old 1979 - 57.3% 6000 bottles released 2001
Port Ellen 24 years old 1978 - 59.4% 12000 bottles released 2002
Port Ellen 25 years old 1978 - 56.2% 5100 bottles released 2004
Port Ellen 25 years old 1979 - 57.4% 5280 bottles released 2005
Port Ellen 27 years old 1978 - 54.2% 4560 bottles released 2006
Port Ellen 28 years old - 53.8% 5274 bottles released 2007
Port Ellen 29 years old 1979 - 55.3% 6618 bottles released 2008

Rare Malts Selection
Port Ellen Aged 20 years 1978 60.9% Rare Malts Selection
released 1998
Port Ellen Aged 22 years 1978 60.5% Rare Malts Selection
released 2000

Port Ellen Single Malt Scotch Whisky 22 year old 1978 -70cl Rare Malts Selection

Colour: Gold

Starts with arousing seaweed aromas - “like walking on the beach” - The light firm body style reveals smooth sea salt, crusty bread flavours, and a sweetly salty, powerful long and complex finish.

Port Ellen Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Independent Bottlings 

Adelphi,
Berry's Own Selection
Blackadder
Bladnoch Forum
Cadenhead’s
Chieftain's (Ian Mcleod)
Connoisseurs Choice (Gordon & MacPhail)
Dewar Rattery
Dun Bheagan (Ian McLeod),
Norse Cask (Denmark)
Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing),
Platinum Old & Rare (Douglas Laing),
Provenance (Douglas Laing)
Scotts Selection (Speyside Distillers)
Un-Chill Filtered (Signatory).

Port Ellen Single Malt Whisky 24 year old Provenance 46%, 70cl

Provenance bottling by Douglas Laing. Single Cask.DMG Ref: 4127.
The "Final Vintage" in its Last Season of Distillation.

On the nose is an immediate wall of peat, syacked beach-side with clean fresh sea-salty air in abundance.
Sweet on the palate initially , it moves through different phases of vanillia, phenols, tannins and gristy quality to some latesoft chewed leather - replicated on the finish plus a little extra pepperiness iodine, and tarry character. (F)

Port Ellen

Scotch Whisky
Distillery Style
Tasting Notes

Nose: Medicinal, smoky, peaty, salty, green olives.

Palate: Medium bodied. Lovely oily texture with layer upon layer of complex peat flavours, smoke, herbs, vanilla, spices and kippers.

Finish: Very long and smoky.

Port Ellen Distillery,

Port Ellen
Isle of Islay
Pa427AH

Closed Distillery

Buy Port Ellen single malt Scotch whisky online at whiskys.co.uk