Port Ellen Unveils a Whisky Marvel: The Singular Port Ellen Prism for the Entire World

Thursday, 21 August 2025 at 12:15Distillers One of One

Port Ellen Prism single malt Islay whisky Distillers One of One

For its 200th anniversary, the Port Ellen Distillery on Islay has pulled out all the stops with the Port Ellen Prism: a 46-year-old whisky, the oldest single malt whisky ever produced by the distillery.

FAQ

What is the Port Ellen Prism?
A unique single malt from Port Ellen, distilled in 1978.

Where is it being auctioned?
At the Distillers One of One, an exclusive charity auction at Hopetoun House, Scotland.

How much is the bottle expected to fetch?
Between £150,000 and £300,000, according to initial estimates.

A Liquid Heritage

The Port Ellen Prism was distilled in 1978, nearly half a century ago. The distillery on Islay then aged the peated spirit in refill hogsheads for an initial maturation period. Afterward, the whisky was further transferred and aged for ten more years in a puncheon made of American oak.

The result is a whisky that not only breathes history due to its age and the year of bottling, but also due to its rare issuance. There's only one bottle going to be auctioned at the Distillers One of One auction.

A Decanter to Die For

This bottle, like many entries for the charity auction, has been designed by an artist. In this case, artist Wilfried Grooten was commissioned to create a special glass decanter.

He painted multiple layers of glass and finally assembled a large square decanter, with what looks like a dandelion encased within countless layers. The Port Ellen whisky sparkles at the center.

Grooten says it was an honor to work on this:

'With delicate brush strokes I paint or draw on single panes that, layered, trimmed and polished, seemingly float in the glass creating three dimensional shapes, visualising the smoke within and exploring its depth of flavour.'

- Wilfried Grooten

Port Ellen Prism single malt Islay whisky

What does the Port Ellen Prism Whisky taste like?

Master Blender Aimée Morrison shares more about the deep flavor profile of this 46-year-old Islay single malt whisky:

'Amber-gold layers of currants, berries, and chocolate mingle with smoke from the core, combined with hints of spices, cinder toffee, and a lingering sea breeze.'

- Aimée Morrison

The Ultimate Collector's Experience

As if the exclusive Port Ellen whisky isn't unique enough, the winning bidder will receive an invitation for an exclusive visit to Islay. The buyer of this bottle, along with three guests, will participate in the experimental Atlas of Smoke tour at the distillery.

Here, they will learn how data can assist in defining the taste of a whisky. This was the case with the Port Ellen Gemini, for instance.

What is the expected yield for the Port Ellen whisky?

The Distillers One of One auction has not officially commenced, but there's already an expected yield for this unique 1.5 liters bottle of Scottish whisky. The Port Ellen Prism is estimated to fetch between 150,000 and 300,000 pounds.

The proceeds will go to charity, whereby every two years, funds are raised to support disadvantaged youths in Scotland.