Portintruan welcomes ex-Ardbeg veteran Jackie Thomson
After departing her role of visitor centre manager at Ardbeg earlier this year, Jackie Thomson has joined neighbouring Islay distillery Portintruan.
Thomson has been appointed visitor experience manager at Portintruan, which is slated to open in spring/summer 2026.
She was with Ardbeg for almost 30 years, first joining the company in 1996.
Portintruan is owned by Elixir Distillers, which was founded by Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh who also established The Whisky Exchange.
As the new visitor experience manager, Thomson is currently working on designing the visitor journey through Portintruan Distillery as the building work is completed.
She commented: “What makes Portintruan unique is that the visitor has never been an afterthought here. The flow of the building has been designed with visitors in mind, and the result is both thoughtful and inspiring. I’m confident people will feel it the moment they walk through the doors.
“We’re shaping the journey through the distillery – whether visitors are here for whisky production, Islay’s history, good food, or a great dram.
“We are creating experiences that leave lasting memories for every whisky lover who comes through the door.”
Sukhinder Singh said the aim for Portintruan was to celebrate the “very best of Islay”.
He added: “We wanted to create somewhere that allows both the malt spirit and the island spirit to shine. We can’t do that without the right people.
“Georgie [Crawford] and Jackie, in addition to our head of whisky creation Oliver Chilton, have helped shape the Islay whisky industry over the last few decades and will be a formidable team. They already are and the doors aren’t even open yet.”
Crawford, former Lagavulin manager, joined Elixir Distillers in 2021, shortly after planning permission for Portintruan was granted in 2020.
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