Port Ellen 15 years 1969 75cl

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bottler Gordon & MacPhail

Distillery / brand Port Ellen

Country Scotland

Region Islay

Content Size 0.75 liter

Alc/vol 40%

Age 15 years

Distilled 1969

Filling level Top shoulder

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€ 2.499,95

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Port Ellen 15 Years – Vintage 1969 – Gordon & MacPhail

A rare relic from the golden days of Islay: this Port Ellen 15 Years Vintage 1969, bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, offers a unique opportunity to experience the legendary distillery in a youthful form. With its trademark smoky power and elegant complexity, this whisky does full justice to Port Ellen’s revered name. A vintage 75cl release – now a true treasure for collectors and connoisseurs alike.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intensely smoky and medicinal with notes of wet rope, iodine, campfire and sea breeze. Beneath that: lemon zest, leather, green herbs and a hint of tar.

Palate

Powerful and maritime with flavours of peat smoke, brine, ash, black pepper and smoked fish. Yet also elegant with citrus sharpness, a touch of green apple and subtle waxy notes.

Finish

Long, dry and smoky with a salty undertone, charcoal, anise and a lingering minerality.

Port Ellen Distillery

Port Ellen Distillery is located on the south coast of the island of Islay, near the village of the same name. Founded in 1825 by Alexander Kerr Mackay and later taken over by John Ramsay in 1836, Port Ellen has a rich history, but sadly closed in 1983. The distillery quickly gained legendary status among whisky lovers.

A specific feature of Port Ellen was its pronounced peat smoke, resulting in whiskies with a deep, smoky flavour. The distillery used traditional copper pot stills and used water from the nearby Leorin Lochs. The whiskies were mainly matured in ex-bourbon casks, which contributed to the balance of sweet and smoky notes.

Port Ellen whiskies are known for their complex flavour profiles with notes of seaweed, medicinal smoke, sea salt and a subtle sweetness. Despite the closure, the remaining bottles remain in high demand and are often seen as collectibles and investment items.

The reopening of the distillery, on 19 March 2024, has raised much anticipation among whisky lovers worldwide, who are hoping for a revival of this iconic Islay single malt whisky.

Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is one of the most respected and influential independent bottlers in the whisky world. With a history dating back to 1895 and a commitment to quality, craftsmanship and innovation, the company has played a key role in the development and popularisation of single malt whisky. Their extensive portfolio, ranging from rare old whiskies to unique expressions from well-known distilleries, makes Gordon & MacPhail a favourite among whisky collectors and enthusiasts worldwide.

History

Gordon & MacPhail was founded in 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail. It began as a grocery shop in Elgin, selling a wide range of products, including tea, coffee, wine, and spirits. Soon the company focused on whisky, starting by bottling single malts, and one of Gordon & MacPhail's most important contributions to the whisky industry was their vision of maturing whiskies over long periods of time. While many distilleries focused on producing whisky for blends, Gordon & MacPhail saw the potential of single malts and began storing whiskies in their own casks for long-term maturation.

Please note

This bottle was bottled a long time ago. Please be careful when opening. The closure may have deteriorated. The item is sold as photographed and described. We do not accept any liability for the condition of the closure.

Port Ellen Distillery stands on the southern coast of Islay in the harbour village of the same name. Founded in 1825, it developed a reputation for elegantly peated whisky with a distinctive maritime character. Port Ellen closed in 1983 and subsequently became one of Scotland’s most famous ‘ghost distilleries’. The remaining stocks matured remarkably well, making older bottlings highly sought after by collectors and whisky enthusiasts.

After more than forty years of silence, Port Ellen reopened on its historic site in 2024. The revived distillery combines tradition with experimentation. The Phoenix Stills are precise replicas of the original copper stills and are intended to continue the classic character. Alongside them, the Experimental Stills and an innovative spirit safe provide opportunities to explore new styles of whisky. Port Ellen is known for refined peat smoke, wood ash, sea salt, pepper, citrus and a long smoky finish. The distillery therefore once again forms a remarkable link between Islay’s whisky heritage and modern distillation technology.

Gordon & MacPhail is a Scottish whisky specialist and independent bottler, founded in Elgin in 1895 by James Gordon and John Alexander MacPhail. The business began as a grocery shop offering tea, coffee, wine and spirits. John Urquhart joined soon afterwards, and his family continued to develop the company over several generations.

Gordon & MacPhail became renowned for maturing new-make spirit from Scottish distilleries in carefully selected casks of its own. The relationship between distillery character, type of wood and extended maturation has always been central to this approach. This expertise created an exceptional inventory of single malt whisky, including remarkably old and rare bottlings. Introduced in 1968, the Connoisseurs Choice range also played an important part in building international interest in single malt Scotch whisky.

In 1993, the family acquired Benromach Distillery, which reopened in 1998 following extensive restoration. The Cairn Distillery followed later. Gordon & MacPhail thus developed from a shop and bottler into a whisky maker, distillery owner and maturation specialist, with wood remaining a defining influence in every whisky.