The distillery was built by AK Mackay in 1820, Port Ellen is a harbourg town on Islay's south coast, After being bought by John Ramsay in 1836, it began exporting its whisky. It was the first Scottish distillery to export its single malt to the United States.

The history of the distillery was quite eventful, alternating periods of production and periods of closure until 1983, date of definitive closure, The distillery was equipped in 1973 with a malt house. It is now the only industrial activity maintained on the site. Port Ellen now supplies the other distilleries on the Island of Islay: Lagavulin, Caol Ila, but also Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain, Kilchoman, as well as that of Tobermory on the Isle of Mull.

A rare Murray McDavid bottling of Port Ellen distilled in 1982 and bottled in 2009, matured in bourbon and finished in Chateau D'Yquem Casks. 

70c/48.6%