When Port Ellen Distillery finally reopened in March 2024, it had been silent for over 40 years. Perhaps one of the biggest losses during the 1980s Whisky Loch, Port Ellen garnered a dedicated cult following through independent bottlings and Diageo’s Annual Releases. So, when news of a multi-million-pound refurbishment was announced in 2017, Port Ellen fans rejoiced.
Now, Port Ellen is active once again. Cementing its return with the release of the Port Ellen Gemini, it is clear that we can expect big things from the revived distillery. The question on everyone’s minds, though, is how much aged stock Diageo has left from Port Ellen. Can we expect other high-age-statement releases? Or will we have to wait for new stock to mature? If it does happen to be the latter, never fear. There are numerous incredible Port Ellen bottlings on the secondary market that you can still get your hands on, whether you open and drink these premium single malts, or you are expanding your collection. These are just some of them.
Port Ellen 1978 20 Year Old Rare Malts Selection
BUY NOW: $2,486
The Rare Malts Selection from DCL (now Diageo) was launched in 1995 specifically to showcase single malt scotches from closed distilleries under its portfolio. Most of the whiskies in the collection were distilled in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s and are aged over 18 years. Whilst the series was discontinued in 2005, it is still regarded highly by collectors, who have over 121 bottlings from 36 distilleries to collect.
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This particular whisky was distilled at Port Ellen Distillery in 1978, just five years prior to the distillery’s closer. It was bottled at 20 years old in 1998 at a cask strength of 60.90% ABV.
Port Ellen 1979 23 Year Old Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection
BUY NOW: $1,795
Wilson & Morgan is an Italian independent bottler with a long history of bottling scotch, stretching back to the 1960s. Still a family company today, the origins of Wilson & Morgan can be traced back to Treviso in the 1920s when the grandfather of the current chairman moved there.
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Upon the decision to import scotch whisky in the 1960s, the company initially focused on blended and premium blended whisky, eventually moving onto bottling single malts. Along with Samaroli, another legendary Italian independent bottler established in 1968, Wilson & Morgan grew the popularity of single malt scotch whisky and single cask bottlings on the European continent.
The Wilson & Morgan Barrel Selection series was established in 1992, focusing on vintage single malt scotch. This Port Ellen whisky was distilled in 1979 and bottled at age 23 from single cask #6769.
Port Ellen 1979 32 Year Old 11th Annual Release
BUY NOW: $2,816
For a very long time, the Diageo Port Ellen Annual Releases were one of the only sources of official Port Ellen bottlings. After the distillery closed in 1983, Diageo had a backlog of aged Port Ellen stocks, which they bottled and released on an annual basis.
The Port Ellen Annual Releases began in 2001 with the release of a 1979 22 Year Old. 2017 saw the discontinuation of the series. This was initially a huge loss to whisky fans. However, it was in the same year that Diageo announced plans to reopen the distillery, as well as Brora in the Highlands. Hope was rekindled.
This is the 11th Annual Release from the series. A 1979 vintage, the whisky was matured for 32 years and released to the public in 2011 at 53.9% ABV.
The Annual Releases have long captured the interests of scotch whisky collectors. Building a collection of all Annual Releases, sometimes called a ‘vertical’, has become something of a challenge for collectors and investors.
Port Ellen 1982 Connoisseurs Choice
BUY NOW: $1,310
Gordon & Macphail is, perhaps, the most famous scotch independent bottler. The firm has an extensive history, dating back almost 130 years. The Connoisseurs Choice series is one of the best-known exploits from the company. Launched in the mid-1960s, the Connoisseurs Choice range contains a whole host of scotch whisky gems hailing from every region in Scotland.
This Port Ellen whisky was distilled in 1982 and bottled by Gordon & Macphail for the Connoisseurs Choice range in 2001. This is not the only bottling of Port Ellen in the series, far from it. There is a wide range of vintage Connoisseurs Choice Port Ellen on the secondary market.
In 2023, Gordon & Macphail announced its intentions to cease independent bottlings. After a long and illustrious stint, the company has decided to focus its attention on its two single malt scotch whisky distilleries: Benromach and The Cairn. Whilst this does not mean the immediate cessation of bottling (Gordon & Macphail still has a lot of aged stock to work through), it means that, eventually, we will not see any further releases from Gordon & Macphail. This will, inevitably, make bottles such as these even more valuable to scotch whisky collectors. Once they’re gone, they’re gone, you might say.
Port Ellen 1983 25 Year Old The McGibbon’s Provenance
BUY NOW: $1,490
Lastly, we have this 25 year old whisky, distilled in the final year of Port Ellen’s life (or so it was at the time). Distilled in the winter of 1983, this bottle contains some of the last spirit to run off the stills at Port Ellen before the distillery fell silent for over 40 years. It is also a single cask bottling from butt #4542.
Famed mostly for its quirky golf-themed ceramic decanters, McGibbon’s & Co. is a subsidiary of another famous scotch independent bottler, Douglas Laing & Co.
The McGibbon’s Provenance series places emphasis on the season in which the whisky was distilled. This is a ‘Winter Distillation’, with other bottles from spring, summer, and autumn also available to collect.
This bottle, in particular, is in fantastic condition with an enviable fill level which, ultimately, means you get to own that little bit more historic Port Ellen whisky.
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