Port Ellen 1983 Moon Import

Port Ellen 22 Year Old 1983 Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask

When winter arrives, I always try some Islay whiskies. Makes sense, right? And Port Ellen samples are always something to look forward to. I keep them for last. Let me start with this 22 Year Old from the Old Malt Cask series by Douglas Laing. The nose is clean, but very salty and slightly medicinal. A small sweetness in the shape of almonds,...

Score 89/100

Port Ellen 1978 31 Year Old 10th Release

Port Ellen distillery was founded in 1825 on the southern shore of Islay by Alexander Kerr Mackay. Between 1825 and 1836 ownership of the distillery changed a couple of times, but after John Ramsay was granted a lease on Port Ellen in 1836 it was operated by him and his descendants until the distillery was sold to the Port Ellen Distillery Co....

Score 92/100

Port Ellen 1979 32 Year Old 11th Release

Port Ellen Maltings was one of the first whisky related structures I saw as I drove into Bowmore from Islay Airport. It's nothing but a huge drab structure with massive chimneys billowing peat smoke. And there's pretty much nothing there to remind you of the distillery that once stood there till 1983. Except for maybe the warehouses that now hold...

Score 98/100

Port Ellen 1979 24 Year Old 3rd Release (2003)

Nose: this is the sharper, flinty / mineral kind of Port Ellen, although it’s not an extreme example. It has a slightly pungent profile that I associate with wet limestone, lemon and cut grass. Ethereal hints of nail polish as well. Quite some alcohol. It misses the feminine side of vanilla that softens the 7th or 9th release. Evolves on...

Score 91/100