In Secure Palms
With the distillery now in its closing phases of growth, there’s hope that it will likely be capable of start distilling in late spring/early summer time. The purpose is a whopping 1 million litres per yr.
Whereas some imagine autumn is trying extra seemingly what’s for sure is, while you take a look at the names main this challenge, you realize the distillery is in very protected arms.
Taking the function of Distillery Supervisor for instance, will likely be Georgie Crawford. Georgie joined Elixir Distillers in 2021 to function Distillery Supervisor for Islay’s latest whisky producing website. Georgie is an Islay native born and bred, so she definitely is aware of the terroir, the native space, and naturally, the enterprise itself.
Having labored for Diageo for near twenty years, Georgie additionally is aware of Islay whisky as she beforehand served as Supervisor at Lagavulin. She has, the truth is, been within the whisky biz since 2002 the place she served at The Vaults in Edinburgh with the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Since then, she has labored for names equivalent to Talisker, Teaninich, Glen Ord, and naturally, Lagavulin.
Taking the function as Head of Whisky Creation is Oliver Chilton. Oliver has fairly the palate relating to whisky and what he doesn’t find out about cask choice isn’t value understanding. Oliver has served as Head Blender for Elixir Distillers and has been within the enterprise for greater than twenty years.
In autumn of 2025, former Customer Centre Supervisor for Ardbeg Distillery Jackie Thomson, additionally joined the group. due to her earlier function, Jackie will function Customer Expertise Supervisor. Jackie just isn’t solely extremely educated relating to Islay, Islay whisky manufacturing, and the drinks enterprise generally, however she can be one of many friendliest folks you might ever want to meet. Her heat hospitality, mixed together with her previous expertise, will certainly make her good for the function.
Overcoming Obstacles
I’m excited to see what’s forward for Portintruan Distillery, notably contemplating the truth that building virtually fell via proper on the final hurdle.
Planning permission for the distillery was granted in 2020, and building started virtually instantly afterwards. The development firm tasked with constructing the distillery was ISG. For the subsequent 4 years, building went largely with no hitch, and even gave the impression to be forward of schedule at one level. Like a storm blowing in off the Atlantic nevertheless, bother was brewing and shortly all the way forward for the distillery could be unsure.
Initially, there have been hopes that the distillery could be accomplished and open to the general public in 2024. With how issues had been progressing, that purpose seemed greater than achievable. On September 20th, 2024 nevertheless, an unlimited spanner was thrown into the works when ISG, together with all 8 of its subsidiaries, entered administration.
Citing points equivalent to rising inflation, sky excessive vitality costs, a scarcity of funds, and having had a lot of large-scale tasks fail beforehand, ISG had been pressured to enter administration and ceased buying and selling with instant impact.
For some time, it seemed as if plans for the development of Portintruan must be deserted. Luckily, Glasgow based mostly firm Morris & Spottiswood could be handed the reigns and could be tasked with including the ultimate touches to the distillery. They resumed work in spring of 2025 and helped to get the challenge again on monitor.
Portintruan is at present months away from opening and, barring any additional logistical issues, appears set to welcome its first visitors in late spring/early summer time 2026. That is one I’ll be watching very intently and may’t wait to go to.
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