DIAGEO's Iconic "Ghost" Distillery Returns After 40 Years, Re-envisioned For The Future To Push The Boundaries Of Experimentation In Scotch Whisky

In a landmark moment for Scotch Whisky, Port Ellen Distillery on Islay has reopened after more than 40 years. As the finale in DIAGEO’s $236 million investment in Scotch Whisky distilleries, Port Ellen has been designed to push the boundaries of Scotch through visionary experimentation.

The iconic Islay distillery has undergone a transformation, leveraging its rich heritage to chart an innovative path forward. Founded on Islay’s southern coast in 1825, Port Ellen was renowned for producing a distinctly smoky Scotch Whisky, primarily used in blends. However, like many other distilleries of its time, it ceased operations in 1983. During its closure, the whisky garnered widespread acclaim and became highly sought after by collectors. In 2017, DIAGEO announced its intention to resurrect the distillery, and today marks the culmination of that journey.

The re-envisioned distillery features an ultra-modern design with an unobstructed line of sight through the transparent glass stillhouse to the stunning coastline of Islay. At the center of this rebirth are two new pairs of copper pot stills that produced 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.

Port Ellen aims to chart an Atlas of Smoke and explore this flavor profile utilizing a range of experimental elements. The distillery was the first to export whisky to North America in 1848 and led the introduction of a bonded warehouse system still used today. The new distillery draws inspiration from this past with the Ten Part Spirit Safe, allowing multiple cuts to be drawn from the heart of the run, accessing unexplored flavors.

Further innovations include a Six-part Roller Mill for added precision and an onsite laboratory supporting exploration into the flavor of smoke. The laboratory allows immediate testing of experiments, reducing environmental impact. Furthermore, Port Ellen Distillery will be carbon neutral from the start. The team has employed methods to ensure this, including using electricity from neutral resources and optimizing water and heat usage. The energy used across the distillery is obtained from renewable sources, including liquid biofuel, in line with Diageo's Society 2030 Spirit of Progress plans.

Ali McDonald, Master Distiller at Port Ellen, says, ‘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. 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 Gemini, a new release to celebrate the rebirth of the trailblazing Islay distillery, is available to purchase by registering with a concierge at DiageoRareandExceptional.com. The 44-Year-Old Scotch Whiskies were drawn from three 1978 European oak casks, specifically selected for this experiment, before being split into two whiskies which took diverging paths of maturation.

The reopening is also marked by the reveal of a scientific digital artwork, “Out of the Ether,” that forms the first chapter in the Port Ellen Distillery’s mission to chart an Atlas of Smoke. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography, the chemical composition of the two Port Ellen Gemini Whiskies has been analyzed over the last two years of their maturation to give a detailed dataset revealing the differences in the additive and extractive impact of both casks.

With data visualization experts Bose Collins, Port Ellen developed a bespoke algorithm “Smoke DNAi” to decode and visualize this data and explore whisky smoke's intricate composition and evolution during aging. The artwork brings the magic of maturation to life: a stunning visual simile of the flavor profile of these rare twin whiskies.

In the future, Port Ellen’s SmokeDNAi can be used by the team at the distillery to visually compare and contrast other liquids to shine a fresh light on the smoky flavors within Scotch Whisky in an ongoing quest to chart the Atlas of Smoke.

Aimée Morrison, Port Ellen Master Blender, speaks of the future: ‘Port Ellen will be defined as a distillery that will push boundaries. 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. We will better understand how the nuanced flavors from cask-to-cask shine in different ways; with the rolling smoke weaving its way through the heart of Port Ellen. Collectively we will endeavor to maintain the undeniable quality of Port Ellen and create whiskies for the future. 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!’

A range of experiences will be available to book in June, from a full-day private immersion for connoisseurs to shorter introductions to the production process. Port Ellen will also hold a monthly open day to ensure that followers can see inside the distillery and witness Port Ellen spirit be crafted once again.

These experiences provide tastings of Port Ellen Gemini, the opportunity to draw from casks of historic stock, and explore the maltings that have provided smoky malt to Islay distilleries since the 1970s. Within the original Port Ellen Pagoda, a new ideas and experimentation space allows visitors to consider current and future experiments in service of Port Ellen’s mission to examine every facet of flavor as it charts an Atlas of Smoke.

The distillery also features work by award-winning artists, including multiple Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust scholars Lucy May Schofield, Fung + Bedford, Eleanor Lakelin, and Harry Morgan, Daniel Brophy, and Object studio.

Please drink responsibly.