A Cask of Distinction from one of Scotland’s most revered distilleries is set to go under the hammer on Fine Spirits Auction, with bidding closing on 2 October 2026.
One of Scotland’s most sought-after names is back in the spotlight. A whole cask of Port Ellen distilled in 1979 is now available through Fine Spirits Auction, with bidding opening at €1 million and closing on 2 October 2026.
Presented in partnership with Diageo as part of the Port Ellen Cask of Distinction programme, this exceptional lot offers collectors the rare opportunity to acquire, mature and eventually bottle a piece of Islay history.
A 1979 Port Ellen with a future at 50
Distilled on 15 February 1979, cask 1145 is a refill American oak hogshead currently maturing at Royal Lochnagar Distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
The successful bidder may leave the whisky to mature there until 16 February 2029, allowing it to be bottled at 50 years old. The lot includes support for storage, logistics and bottling within the Port Ellen Cask of Distinction range.
A rare profile, in the glass
Charles MacLean, Scotland’s leading whisky expert, describes the cask as:
“Sensational! As good a Port Ellen as I have ever tasted; unusually dark and rich, hugely complex and rewarding.”
The cask at a glance
- Cask number: 1145
- Cask type: Hogshead, refill American oak
- Distilled: 15 February 1979
- Estimated ABV: 51.4%, based on a June 2026 estimate
- Estimated yield: 73 bottles
- Current age: 47 years
- Option: defer bottling until 16 February 2029, to mark the cask’s 50th anniversary
Etienne de La Morsanglière, Director of Fine & Rare Spirits at La Maison du Whisky, comments:
“Opportunities to showcase a Port Ellen cask of this provenance and age are extremely rare. This Cask of Distinction, distilled in 1979, boasts an impeccably documented history and now has an added distinction: its future owner will be granted a special dispensation permitting it to continue maturing until its fiftieth birthday. We’re especially delighted to present this cask to international collectors via Fine Spirits Auction.”
A cask with a proven collector history
This exact cask previously appeared at auction in 2022, when it fetched £875,000, approximately €1.018 million.
Its return to the market offers collectors another opportunity to acquire a remarkably well-documented Port Ellen cask, with the additional possibility of waiting until its 50th year before bottling.
The lot is live on Fine Spirits Auction until 2 October 2026. Prior registration is required to bid.
Why Port Ellen matters
Founded on Islay in 1825, Port Ellen has become one of the great names in single malt whisky. Production stopped in May 1983, making the distillery’s surviving pre-closure stocks especially sought after by collectors.
These historic casks were showcased in seventeen Diageo Special Releases between 2001 and 2017. In March 2024, after more than four decades, Diageo restarted production at Port Ellen, opening a new chapter while the older stocks continue to mature and be released.
Fine Spirits Auction, a home for rare spirits
Launched in November 2020 by La Maison du Whisky and iDealwine, Fine Spirits Auction brings specialist expertise and an international audience to the spirits market.
More than 15,000 bottles have been sold on the platform since its launch. Open to bidders worldwide, Fine Spirits Auction currently ships to more than 40 countries.
