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16.09.2026
Port Ellen 1979 Cask Nr.1145 Goes to Auction at €1 Million
Port Ellen 1979 Cask Nr.1145 Goes to Auction at €1 Million
A 1979 Port Ellen Cask Returns to Auction
Fine Spirits Auction, the French online spirits auctioneer, is offering Port Ellen 1979 Cask of Distinction Cask Nr.1145, with bidding opening at €1 million. The cask is presented in partnership with Diageo, and bidding runs on the Fine Spirits Auction website until 2 October 2026.
It is not the first time this cask has been sold. It went under the hammer in 2022 for the equivalent of roughly €1.02 million at today's exchange rate.
Inside Cask Nr.1145
The single malt was distilled at Port Ellen on Islay on 15 February 1979 and has matured in a refill American oak hogshead ever since. In June 2026 its strength was estimated at 51.4% ABV, with enough whisky for around 73 bottles. The whisky is now 47 Years Old and rests at Royal Lochnagar Distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
A Path to 50 Years Old
The buyer can leave the whisky to mature at Royal Lochnagar until 16 February 2029, when it will be 50 Years Old. The lot also includes logistics support, storage and bottling as part of the official Port Ellen Cask of Distinction range.
"Opportunities to showcase a Port Ellen cask of this provenance and age are extremely rare. This Cask of Distinction boasts an impeccably documented history and now carries an added privilege: its future owner will be granted a special dispensation permitting the whisky to continue maturing until its 50th birthday."
Port Ellen and Its 1979 Casks
Port Ellen was founded on Islay in 1825 and closed in 1983. After 40 silent years, Diageo reopened the distillery on 19 March 2024.
Other 1979 bottlings from the Casks of Distinction series can be found on Spiritory, including Port Ellen 40 Years Old 1979 Casks of Distinction Cask Nr.1883 and Port Ellen 40 Years Old 1979 Casks of Distinction Cask Nr.6819.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can the buyer keep the whisky maturing?
Until 16 February 2029 at Royal Lochnagar, when the whisky reaches 50 Years Old. Storage and bottling are included in the lot.
How many bottles could the cask fill?
Around 73 bottles at an estimated 51.4% ABV, based on the June 2026 estimate.
Until when can bids be placed?
Bidding opens at €1 million and runs on the Fine Spirits Auction website until 2 October 2026.
About the author
Spiritory Team
Spiritory is a team of dedicated Whisky, Rum and Spirits Enthusiast. Our passion for the product, craftmanship and art of producing the finest spirits in the world will be represented in every article we write on our blog-page. Our goal is to produce content which is interesting to read and for a broad base of consumers, enthusiasts, investors and collectors.