‘From Islay to the World!’: After Over 4 Decades of Slumber, Iconic Port Ellen Scotch Whisky Distillery Awakens

Port Ellen has reopened. (Photos: Diageo)

Diageo announced on Tuesday that Port Ellen, a sleeping “ghost distillery” that has laid dormant for over 40 years, has reopened to the public. The distillery’s resurrection marks the final capstone of a £185 million ($235.5 million) project involving Scotch whisky distillery experiences.

The brand hired Ali McDonald as master distiller at Port Ellen. According to Whisky Magazine, McDonald held positions at Kilchoman, Caol Ila and Lagavulin.

“It is an honor to take up this new position at the helm of an iconic distillery and build on Port Ellen’s pioneering past,” McDonald said in a news release. “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.”

Alexander “Ali” McDonald, Port Ellen’s master distiller, draws whisky.

Port Ellen was established on Islay’s south coast in 1825, according to Diageo and was known for its distinctively smoky flavor profile. The distillery was mothballed in 1983, and sadly during its closure was beginning to find “incredible global acclaim.”

Though this could have been the end of a promising distillery, Diageo announced it would bring Port Ellen back to life in 2017.

The new facilities are ultra-modern and have windows that feature views of the Islay coastline and the Carraig Fhada lighthouse. The distillery houses two stills: The Phoenix stills. A smaller set of “experimental stills” will run alongside the copper pot stills.

Diageo claims Port Ellen aims to explore the smoky flavor profile for which the brand was known, using technology. The distillery will feature a “Six-part Roller Mill” to ensure “precision” and an onsite laboratory. The brand also shared that Port Ellen will be carbon neutral from its inception and will use renewable energy.

“Port Ellen will be defined as a distillery that will push boundaries,” Port Ellen Master Blender Aimée Morrison said in the news release. “Each element of the production process allows us to innovate from day one, with an on-site laboratory we can delve into scientific research to examine the possibilities of this legendary Islay malt.”

More About the Reawakened Port Ellen

In February, Port Ellen announced the release of a two-whisky release called “Gemini” to celebrate the distillery’s return. Those whiskies are now available for purchase. Port Ellen released a series of digital artwork, titled “Out of the Ether” using high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography to analyze the chemical compositions of the whiskies.

The Diageo-owned brand then developed a technology called “Smoke DNAi” — or Digital Neoteric Algorithmic image — to turn whisky smoke’s composition into art, offering a visual representation of the aging of the whiskies.

According to the brand, it intends to use this Smoke DNAi technology to offer visual images of its whiskies so the brand can compare and contrast them with time.

“Through our bespoke algorithmic image machine we reveal today, we can learn even more about the enigma of smoke and bring people with us on this journey — from Islay to the world!” Morrison said.

Starting in June, tourists can book experiences at the distillery which features tastings of its new offerings and more historic whisky stocks. The brand intends to have a monthly open house, so individuals can see the awakened distillery.

“We are deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of Scotch through experimentation,” Morrison concluded. “I’m excited to see what we can now create.”

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