17 September 2025

    • Port Ellen 39 Years Old 1978

    2018 Untold Stories - The Spirit Safe

    Highest Bid
    £2,600
    RESERVE NOT MET
    Port Ellen 39 Years Old 1978
    2018 Untold Stories - The Spirit Safe
    Lot #1400474
    FINISH DATE
    21 July 2025

    A rare release from the legendary closed Port Ellen distillery, Untold Stories: The Spirit Safe is the inaugural expression in the Untold Stories Series, celebrating some of the last remaining stocks from this iconic Islay distillery. Matured for an incredible 39 years in a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-refill European oak Sherry casks, this whisky offers a complex character. Bottled at its natural cask strength of 50.9% ABV and natural in colour, this limited release is strictly limited to just 1,500 bottles worldwide. Each bottle is presented in an elegant wooden display case, which can only be opened with two unique keys.

    Minor dent to box.

    Port Ellen

    Port Ellen was down as a lost distillery until Diageo revealed plans to revive this iconic Islay whisky. Originally closed in 1983 as part of the widespread cutbacks, its fame has endured thanks to a series of top-notch Special Releases that spanned 17 incarnations. As stocks became more scarce other options were considered. Eventually, Diageo realised that a better option would be to rebuild the distillery, which had been partially converted to become the main maltings on the island. A bigger rebuild than Brora, which had remained mothballed, expectations around Port Ellen are high. Production is expected to resume in 2021 on a small scale, allowing visitors to experience this famous name from the past, revived for a new generation. It might not be Port Ellen as we knew it, but we’re expecting a thorough restoration.

    Lot Features
    • BOTTLER
      Official Bottling
    • CASK TYPE
      Bourbon & Sherry
    • DISTILLERY
      Port Ellen
    • TYPE
      Full Size
    • SIZE
      70 cl
    • STRENGTH
      50.9%
    Region
    Scotland, Islay
    Scotland, Islay

    Frequently Asked Questions

    You’ll need an account with us to place bids in any auction. Registration takes 60 seconds and there’s a small £5.00 registration fee, payable by credit or debit card. Once paid, you will be registered and can place bids in the auction immediately. The registration fee helps us ensure you’re a real person and a genuine bidder.
    In the interest of fairness, any bids placed in the final five minutes of a particular lot will extend the end time of that Lot by 15 minutes. We believe in giving our customers a fair amount of time to increase their bid should they wish. Last second sniping isn’t in the spirit of our auctions and by using this system there is no benefit to doing so.
    Selling Whisky should be a pleasurable experience not a complicated one! We've broken down the process into a few easy-to follow steps.

    The first step is to get your whisky to us. We can help with courier collections, or you can arrange transport yourself. Once at Just Whisky, we’ll handle photography and description of your lots and enter your whisky into our auction. We take payment, then pay you within 14 days of the auction end date.

    The first step is to register an account (it takes 60 seconds) and complete our sellers form here.
    Still get questions? View full list of
    FAQs