Port Ellen whisky distillery
Originally there were two distilleries in the Port Dundas district of Glasgow. The first was founded there in 1811 by Daniel McFarlane. Two years later the second distillery was established there by Brown, Gourlie & Co. The two distilleries merged in the 1860s and in 1877 they were taken over by the Distillers Company, now Diageo, of which it was part of the founders club. Port Dundas grain whisky was used for making Johnnie Walker, J&B
Port Ellen factsheet
| Name | Pronounced | AKA | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Ellen | port EL-en | Islay | |
| Country of Origin | Status | Active | Whisky Type |
| Scotland | Reawakening | 1825 - 1983 | Malt |
| Website | Tours Available | Owned by | Parent Group |
| Port Ellen | Not Available | Diageo |
Port Ellen equipment & site
| Still maker | Abercrombie |
|---|---|
| Setting | Coastal |
| Also | Revived site |
What Port Ellen makes
Whisky
- Port Ellen (rare vintage releases)
Shop: at the distillery.
Port Ellen Timeline:
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- 1824-25Established by Alexander Ker Mackay, with the support of Walter Frederick Campbell, Laird of Islay, on the site of an old mill
- 1836The distillery lease is taken by John Ramsay following bankruptsy
- 1869W.P. Lowrie becomes agent of Port Ellen
- 1920The wife & son of John Ramsay sell to the Port Ellen Distillery Co. Ltd. upon his death
- 1925Acquired by Distillers Company Ltd.
- 1930Port Ellen distillery closes
- 1967Reopened, modernized extensively and licensed to Low Robertson & Co. of Edinburgh
- 1973Port Ellen Maltings are being built
- 1983Distillery closed
- 1987Agreement signed with all the Islay distillery owners to buy malt from the Maltings to preserve local employment
- 2003One of the pagodas demolished (the large and youngest one)
- 2017Diageo reveals plans to reopen Port Ellen, as well as Brora in the Highlands
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Can I tour Port Ellen?
No, unfortunately Port Ellen distillery is not open to the public for tours
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