Diageo, has today announced the reopening of its Islay based
Port Ellen Distillery, which has undergone a multi-million-pound redevelopment,
following its closure in 1983.
As the finale in Diageo’s £185 million investment in Scotch
Whisky distilleries and experiences, Port Ellen has been specially designed
from the ground up to push the boundaries of Scotch whisky.
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| Port Ellen Distillery officially reopens its doors |
The iconic Islay distillery has undergone a radical
transformation which draws on its pioneering heritage to lead a trailblazing
future. Established on Islay’s south coast in 1825, Port Ellen produced a
distinctively smoky Scotch Whisky used primarily in blends, but ceased
operating in 1983 alongside many other distilleries at the time.
During closure, the whisky found incredible global acclaim
and was eagerly sought out by collectors for its quality, character, and
increasing rarity. In 2017 Diageo announced the intention to bring about Port
Ellen distillery’s return and today marks that final step.
The re-envisioned distillery features ultra-modern design
with an unobstructed line of sight through the transparent glass stillhouse to
the stunning coastline of Islay, across the bay to Carraig Fhada lighthouse.
At the centre of this redevelopment are two new pairs of
copper pot stills that will produce the first Port Ellen in over forty years.
The Phoenix stills, recreated as an exact replica of the original stills from
1983, will run alongside a smaller set of Experimental stills, to allow for innovation
to flourish from inception.
The underlying mission at Port Ellen is to chart an Atlas of
Smoke and explore this flavour profile utilising a range of experimental
elements at the distillery, uniquely designed to support this investigation. A
distillery that holds a pioneering past, Port Ellen was the first to export
whisky to North America as early as 1848, and led the introduction of a bonded
warehouse system still used today.
Commenting on the news, Ali McDonald, Master Distiller at
Port Ellen, said: “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.”
Port Ellen Distillery will welcome the whisky community,
connoisseurs, collectors and invited guests to experience a world leading
immersion into experimentation in Scotch. A range of experiences will be
available to book from June.
Posted by Steve Rush