PORT ELLEN DISTILLERY CELEBRATES 200 YEARS WITH INNOVATIVE WHISKY INITIATIVES

A year after its long-awaited reopening, Diageo-owned Port Ellen Distillery on Islay is celebrating a monumental milestone — its 200th anniversary — with a bold lineup of new experiences, creative collaborations, and experimental whisky projects.

Originally founded by Alexander Kerr MacKay in 1825, Port Ellen has a storied past. Once a key player in Scotch blending under the guidance of John Ramsay, the distillery was mothballed in 1983 during a period of widespread closures. After four decades of silence, the iconic site roared back to life in March 2024.

To mark its bicentenary, Port Ellen is unveiling a number of forward-looking initiatives. Among the highlights is the “Atlas of Smoke”, an ambitious experimental whisky project designed to explore the full spectrum of smoky flavors in Scotch. From peat levels to distillation cut points, the team will dissect how each variable shapes the final spirit.

The distillery’s state-of-the-art Ten Part Spirit Safe, revealed during its reopening, plays a central role in this exploration. Unlike traditional safes that extract just three cuts — heads, hearts, and tails — Port Ellen’s allows for multiple cuts within the heart, unlocking a broader array of complex flavors.

Renowned designer Ini Archibong will join the celebrations with a new art installation inspired by the smoke-driven soul of Port Ellen. Known for his earlier work Dram and the Water, which accompanied a cask of Port Ellen 1979 and fetched over US$1 million at Sotheby’s in 2022, Archibong will reveal his latest creation at the close of the anniversary year.

In addition, Diageo plans to donate a unique, artistically presented Port Ellen whisky release to the Distillers One of One charity auction in October 2025, with more details forthcoming.

Visitors to the distillery can look forward to elevated tasting experiences and behind-the-scenes insight into the whisky trials as the year progresses. Master Blender Aimée Morrison emphasized the importance of this moment, stating:

“It is a great honour to help take Port Ellen into its third century of whisky making. Smoke as a signature of Port Ellen is an aroma that encompasses a broad spectrum of flavours… Through experimentation, we hope to learn more about the intricacies of Port Ellen’s quintessential character.”

Guests will also be able to engage with the distillery’s ongoing research in the Pagoda Room, which will house a “liquid library” showcasing the evolving discoveries of the Atlas of Smoke.

As it enters its third century, Port Ellen stands as a beacon of both tradition and innovation — a distillery deeply rooted in history yet boldly pushing the boundaries of what Scotch whisky can be.