Port Ellen 15Th Release 32 Year Old Single Malt Scotch 750ml

Port Ellen is Big, spicy, smoky rich nose. Plenty of cinnamon, juicy fruit, leather, oranges, and bonfires. Fuller on the palate, with spicy fruit, Seville oranges, cloves, even a touch a meaty. Big, rich, and generous. Adding water softens and sweetens, but also takes the edge off this big-boned dram.

32-year-old single malt Scotch whisky from an Islay distillery that was mothballed in 1983 and never reopened. The whisky comes from the final year of production. Matured in refill European oak butts it’s a release of 2,964 individually numbered bottles. Highly sought after, there won’t be too many more releases of this legendary malt.

This single malt whiskey from mothballed distillery Port Ellen was distilled in 1983 and bottled in 2015. This spectacular whisky was aged in refill European oak butts for 32 years and comes to you at 53.9% ABV. A rich and sweet offering with well-balanced smoke that is not overpowering. A quality bottle that well represents what this distillery had to offer.

Part of Diageo’s Special Releases 2015. Complex and full, with aromas of cinnamon, oranges, leather, and bonfires. Generously spicy and fruity, this dram invites slow contemplation.

Nose:

More creamy and less green or coastal this year with complex caramels, just a hint of smoke, and some menthol edge.

Palate:

It just grows and grows with each sip. Hints of coconut initially before those deep, sometimes dark caramels take center stage augmented by a plethora of rich juicy prunes and dates, treacle, honey, raisins… All totally integrated.

Finish:

Dry, earthy oak before it becomes slightly cooling (perhaps a return of that menthol character).

Overall:

Quite a departure from the ’78s of the last two years, but a triumphant and eminently drinkable one even at full strength. Plenty of European oak influence, oodles of complexity.