Port Ellen 22 years 1979 - 2001 1st Release

Origin and bottling

Distilled in 1979 and finally bottled in the year 2001 after a 22-year maturation. This is the first edition from the Annual Release series. Only 6000 bottles were eventually released, making it very exclusive. This bottle has an additional label under the original label with the following text: Presented by the Secretary General of NATO Lord Robertson of Port Ellen.

Cask type

For this first Release, it is not clear what type of cask it was matured in, but it is expected to be a combination of Refill Sherry Casks and Refill American Bourbon Casks. This release is bottled at natural cask strength of 56.2%

Tasting note

Colour

Pale yellow

Nose

Very complex with earthy notes. Smoked eel, herring and the delicious saltiness of shellfish. Fresh, but particularly smoky. Hint of rubber and clear petrol notes. Like standing at a petrol station filling up. Iodine and seaweed make it a feast for the nose.

Taste

Dark overripe fruit from the bbq. Smoke, smoke and more smoke, but also wood aromas. Peat and seaweed with salty influences. Bacon on a thick hamberger on a lightly burnt bun. This is as thick as motor oil and it even tastes a bit like that. Dirty docks and garages with smells and flavours that reveal something different every second.

Finish

The aftertaste resembles salty popcorn fried over a bbq.

Overall impression

Wow, this is unique and amazing to taste.

This Port Ellen 3rd Release has an average score of 91.73/100 points on WhiskyBase

Limited Edition Bottle No. 7592

Read Serge Valentin's tasting note on his website www.WhiskyFun.com here.

He rated this Single Malt Whisky with 93/100 points.

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.

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.