Sell Your Port Ellen Annual Release Whisky
Are you looking to sell your Port Ellen Annual Release whisky but don’t know where to start?
At Mark Littler LTD we make the selling process as simple as possible by handling all of the logistics, paperwork and fully insured shipping. We have been helping people sell their whisky for nearly 10 years and have hundreds of five star Google reviews.
Sell Your Port Ellen Annual Release Whisky With Mark Littler
Simply fill in the valuation form and we will see what offers we can get from our collection of private clients and send you a referral to a specialist whisky auctioneer.
Learn More About Your Bottle Of Port Ellen Annual Release Whisky
Click here to learn about the history of Port Ellen Annual Release whisky.
Click here to learn more about what affects the value of Port Ellen Annual Release whisky.
Sell Your Whisky Today
Please use the form below to submit images of your bottle and receive a free, no-obligation valuation from a specialist auctioneer. We will also introduce you to a specialist retailer who may make an offer directly to you for your bottles.
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How We Can Help You Sell Your Whisky
Simply fill in the form below and we will put you in contact with a specialist whisky retailer. If your bottle is suitable they will make you an offer directly for your bottle. This is perferable for those wanting a quick sale, or for those who are not prepared to take the risk that auctions entail. There is no charge for our assistance if you accept a private sale.
Alternatively we can help you sell your bottles through auction. With close to 30,000 bottles being sold at auction every month you have to be sure that your bottles are being sold in the right auction to achieve the highest price. There is no charge for our assistance selling at auction
Whisky Valuation Tips
Are you looking to sell your whisky for the highest possible price? It might surprise you to learn that one of the most important actions you can take is to capture high-quality images of your bottles. This ensures we can offer you the best prices and accurately appraise your bottles. Here are our top tips for submitting images of your bottles:
- Stand the bottle upright so that we can clearly see the level of the whisky in the bottle.
- Do you have the original box? If so, place it next to the bottle in the photo.
- Capture the images in a well-lit room, ideally against a neutral background.
What Our Customers Say
Do You Remember This Story?
In 2020 we sold a vertical of Macallan 18 year old for Matthew Robson for £44,000!
The story went viral being covered from the BBC, to India, to the USA.
Matthew had been given a bottle every year from his father as a birthday gift and at the time of sale amounted to 28 bottles, all with their original boxes.
Now We Can Help You
It was a pleasure to work with Matthew, assisting him in obtaining the highest possible amount for his collection. Now, let us use our experience and connections to assist you.
“I was looking to sell my whisky collection of 28 bottles of Macallan 18 year old to fund the purchase of my first house, so I got in touch with Mark.
My father gave me 1 bottle each year for a birthday present so that by the time that I was 18 I would have 18 bottles of 18 year old Macallan. (Yes I’m that guy who was plastered over the media)
Mark did a great job of getting professional photos taken of them and creating a PR buzz around the collection and I even ended up on BBC breakfast news, lad bible, and various radio stations around the world.
At one point my story was the second most viewed story on BBC world wide news app for the whole weekend with over 2 million views.
Needless to say within a day or two of this PR Campaign there was numerous offers.
I would like to thank Mark for all his work and helping me with everything.”
What Is Your Whisky Worth
Do you want to know what your whisky is worth but don’t know where to start?
Use these guides to help you.
What Is Your Whisky Worth? – An in-depth look at the factors affecting your bottle’s value.
A Beginner’s Guide To Selling Whisky – Everything you need to get started selling your whisky.
How To Sell Whisky Online – A rundown of all the online selling options available.
Sell Your Whisky Today – A simple way to sell your whisky fast.
Macallan Specific Guides
The Complete Guide To Valuing Macallan Whisky – Selling Macallan? This is your starting point.
What Is Macallan Whisky Worth? – Unsure of your Macallan’s value? Begin here
The History Of Port Ellen Annual Release Whisky
Port Ellen distillery is located on the south coast of Islay and was opened in 1824 after being built by Alexander Mackay on the site of a malt mill. In 1836 the lease for the distillery was taken over by John Ramsay.
Ramsay, although very young at 21-years-old when he took over the lease, was a visionary. He became the business partner of the owner of Islay, Walter Frederick Campbell. The two started the bi-weekly ferry between Islay and Glasgow, making Port Ellen the island’s main ferry port, and whisky-making the island’s main business.
In 1869, the sales of Port Ellen were handed to W.P. Lowrie, the blender and broker who had a close working relationship with James Buchanan. At this time Port Ellen had already started to export whisky to the United States.
The distillery stayed in Ramsay’s family until 1920 when it was sold to the Port Ellen Distillery Co., formed by James Buchanan and John Dewar. This company then bought W.P. Lowrie’s company. In 1925 the ownership of Port Ellen passed to DCL (later Diageo) when Port Ellen Distillery Co. and W.P. Lowrie became part of the massive firm. In 1930 the distillery fell silent for over thirty years.
In 1973 new malting drums were built to service Diageo’s three Islay distilleries: Port Ellen, Caol Ila, and Lagavulin. The distillery was hit hard by a sharp decline in demand in the 80s. Smoky single malt drinkers were rare and single malts were rarely being considered for blends. The result was that Port Ellen closed for good in 1983.
Subsequent to its closure, prices for Port Ellen whisky have skyrocketed.
Diageo announced the reopening of Port Ellen way back in 2017, following a £35 million investment in Port Ellen and Brora – another silent distillery owned by the company – and fans of the distillery have been waiting excitedly since then. Port Ellen Distillery finally reopened in March 2024, an event that was much celebrated by the distillery’s cult following.
When Port Ellen closed in 1983 its original stills were lost, something that has been a big point of contention for those longing for Port Ellen’s signature style. The new distillery, however, features two pairs of stills. One pair, ‘The Phoenix Stills’ have been created from the blueprints of the original Port Ellen stills, reviving the distillery’s long-lamented style of whisky distillation. The second pair, ‘The Experimental Stills’ will allow Port Ellen to experiment with new distillation techniques as it moves into this new era.
Diageo is keen to recreate the treasured Port Ellen style and so they are creating stills very similar to the ones that served Port Ellen in its first lifetime, as well as welcoming back former Port Ellen employees. It has been suggested by Diageo that the first release will be a 12-year-old in 2032.
Every year Diageo, the owners of Port Ellen, announce a number of special releases. From 2001 to 2017 these special releases included one bottle of Port Ellen per year. In total there are 17 bottles, and the collection has now become extremely collectible due to Diageo’s announcement that the annual releases are no more. The collection includes a wide range of age statements from 22 to 37 years old.
These bottles are some of the most collectible in the world.