Port Ellen 1979 Bottled 2012 Mackillop's Choice

Port Ellen 1979 30 Year Old 9th Release (2009)

This is a “what might have been” kind of review. This is a review of a 30mL sample of a Port Ellen official bottling. The back story: An actual bottle of this 9th release (30 year old) Port Ellen sat at a store near my sister’s house for $369.99 for several years. They also had a bottle of the 8th release. I visited them on two occasions. Both...

Score 88/100

Pe3 Elements of Islay

PE3 is the third Port Ellen in the Elements-range. It differs from the PE1 and PE2 in the sense that this is from a bourbon cask. Hence the straw color. It is also a lot more expensive (retail was 215 EUR, which is hefty for a 50cl bottle), but that is explained by the fact that it was a cask from the 70s. Ah, another classic Port Ellen. The...

Score 91/100

Port Ellen 1979 30 YO, 9th Release

The reviewed sample is of a 1979/2009 30 YO Port Ellen, the 9th release from 1979. Many thanks to @maltster for the sample Nose: really gorgeous peat flavours, gentle, yet strong enough to make an impression. The peat seems to manifest both sweet and sour at the same time, and also in a nice alternation. Smoke influence is quite mild, but...

Score 89/100

Port Ellen 1978 27 Year Old 6th Release (2006)

Nose: quite shy at first and rather simple. Lemon and coastal notes, but it doesn’t seem to open up or show more layers. With some hand warmth, a certain fruitiness does come out: yellow apple, some melon. It seems slightly more sherried than the other two (hints of prunes). Very gentle. Very lightly grassy. Mouth: less coastal than the other two...

Score 88/100