Port Ellen is one of the most legendary distilleries in the world of Scotch whisky. Established in 1825 on the south coast of Islay by A.K. Mackay and Co., the distillery was quickly acquired by John Ramsay, who became one of the most influential figures in its early history. Port Ellen operated for well over a century before being temporarily shut down, then reopened in 1967, only to be permanently closed in 1983 by DCL — now Diageo — during a sweeping industry contraction that shuttered 12 distilleries in that year alone. During its operational years, Port Ellen was prized for producing a distinctively smoky Islay single malt, though much of its output was destined for blended Scotch whisky. The installation of a large maltings facility in 1973 marked a turning point in its production, and the whiskies produced in the 1970s are now among the most coveted in the collector's market. Port Ellen is also reputed to have been the first distillery to adopt certain pioneering practices in Scotch whisky production. Port Ellen's first official release as a single malt came in 2001 as part of Diageo's Special Releases — a 22-year-old expression from 1979. These Annual Releases continued until 2017, cementing the distillery's near-mythical status among whisky collectors. With aged stocks now extremely scarce and the distillery officially reopened by Diageo, Port Ellen remains one of the most watched and celebrated names in rare Scotch whisky.