Portintruan
Full Islay food & drink guide — distilleries, restaurants, where to stay, when to go.
Islay's newest whisky project, from Elixir Distillers — the independent bottler behind the Elements of Islay and Port Askaig ranges. Built on the Portintruan farm just west of Port Ellen (the name means 'place of the stream'), construction broke ground at the end of 2020 and the distillery is expected on stream in 2026. It is a peated-Islay production site in its own right — not the Gartbreck site and not a Kilchoman production site, as it is sometimes wrongly reported. There is no visitor centre yet and first commercial releases are years away.
Portintruan is Elixir Distillers' new Islay distillery, on the shore just west of Port Ellen — the firm's own peated-Islay production site, not the separate Gartbreck project and not a Kilchoman offshoot as it's sometimes reported. Ground broke at the end of 2020 and it is expected on stream in 2026. There is no visitor centre and no releases yet; first bottlings are still years away, so for now it is one to keep on the watch-list.
Core range
Not yet released
Various (planned)
New Islay distillery — production 2022+. First whisky release expected late 2025+.
Character & reputation
Islay's newest project, from Elixir Distillers — the firm behind the Elements of Islay and Port Askaig independent ranges. Built on the Portintruan farm just west of Port Ellen (the name means 'place of the stream'), ground broke at the end of 2020 and the distillery is expected to come fully on stream in late 2026. It's a peated-Islay production site in its own right, not a Kilchoman or Gartbreck offshoot as it's sometimes reported to be — those are separate stories. There's no visitor centre and no releases yet; first bottlings are years away. Best kept on the watch-list — for now, Islay visitors should head to the established southern trio and Kilchoman.
Food pairings
| Whisky | Food | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Kilchoman Machir Bay | Islay oysters | The Kilchoman spirit produced at Portintruan suits the peated-sea combination of Islay oysters. |
Getting there
CalMac ferry from Kennacraig to Port Askaig or Port Ellen, then car across Islay.
Where to eat nearby
- Kilchoman Distillery CaféCafé
Main Kilchoman site has excellent farm café — Islay lamb and local produce.
Where to stay near Portintruan
Portintruan distillery (part of the Portintruan project) is in development on the south Islay coast. For visitor accommodation, Port Ellen (nearest town) has the widest range on this part of the island.
Islay B&B near Kilchoman.
Rhinns of Islay hotel, 15 min.
Where to stay near Portintruan
Hotels, B&Bs, and self-catering within easy reach of Portintruan.
Booking links are affiliate links — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Location
Gartbreck, Islay, PA42 7AP
View on map →Frequently asked questions
+Is Portintruan open to visitors?
No — visit the main Kilchoman distillery on the Rhinns of Islay for the visitor experience and farm café.
+Where is Portintruan distillery?
Portintruan is in Islay. Postcode PA42.
+When was Portintruan distillery founded?
Portintruan was founded in 2024, making it roughly 2 years old.
Compare with similar distilleries
Effectively a Kilchoman sister site — compare all expressions directly with the Kilchoman main range.
Other distilleries owned by Elixir Distillers
Distilleries that share Portintruan's corporate parent — useful context if you're comparing house styles within an owner's stable.
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