Distillery
Port Ellen
Founded
1825
Status
Dismantled
Address
Port Ellen, Islay, Argyll
Owner
Diageo
Historical Facts
1825
Alexander Kerr Mackay assisted by Walter Campbell founds the distillery. Mackay runs into financial troubles after a few months and his three relatives John Morrison, Patrick Thomson and George Maclennan take over.
1833
John Ramsay, a cousin to John Morrison, comes from Glasgow to take over.
1836
Ramsay is granted a lease on the distillery from the Laird of Islay.
1892
Ramsay dies and the distillery is inherited by his widow, Lucy.
1906
Lucy Ramsay dies and her son Captain Iain Ramsay takes over.
1920
Iain Ramsay sells to Buchanan-Dewar who transfers the administration to the company Port Ellen Distillery Co. Ltd.
1925
Buchanan-Dewar joins Distillers Company Limited (DCL).
1929
No production.
1930
Administration is transferred to Scottish Malt Distillers (SMD) and the distillery is mothballed.
1967
In production again after reconstruction and doubling of the number of stills from two to four.
1973
A large drum maltings is installed.
1980
Queen Elisabeth visits the distillery and a commemorative special bottling is made.
1983
The distillery is mothballed.
1987
The distillery closes permanently but the maltings continue to deliver malt to all Islay distilleries.
1998
Port Ellen 1978 (20 years) is released as a Rare Malt.
2000
Port Ellen 1978 (22 years) is released as a Rare Malt.
2001
Port Ellen cask strength first edition is released.
Credit:
Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde.