Port Ellen Distillery, Malt house in Argyll and Bute, Scotland
Port Ellen sits on the southern shore of Islay with traditional copper stills and stone warehouses overlooking the Atlantic. The facility processes grain into malt using time-honored methods and stores maturing spirits in wooden casks within those sturdy buildings.
Founded in 1825, the facility operated until 1983, then stood silent for 40 years before reopening in 2024 after extensive restoration. The revival came from the need to restore grain malting production that had disappeared from the island.
The malting operation here supplies all distilleries across the island, shaping how spirits are made throughout Islay. Visitors can see grain being dried and processed, observing the work that connects this facility to every other whisky maker nearby.
Book ahead to join guided tours that walk you through grain drying, malting, and maturation processes. Dress for changeable weather and sturdy footwear helps since the tour includes walking across the working site.
The reopened facility contains two pairs of stills: one set built to match the original Port Ellen design, and another pair used for testing new spirit styles. This dual setup lets the team honor tradition while experimenting with new approaches.
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