Port Ellen was established as a malt mill in 1825 and later developed into a distillery by John Ramsay. The distillery closed in 1983, though the maltings continue to supply many of Islay's distilleries. Stocks of Port Ellen are still available and the whisky has become highly collectible since the distillery closed, though it is no longer part of Diageo's annual Special Releases. In 2017, Diageo announced that Port Ellen distillery is to be rebuilt in its original buildings, and would reopen in 2020.