Port Ellen Whisky – 25 Year Old Islay Single Malt Whisky

The latest tasting by the Whisky Boys is a little bit special, as it is our first venture into tasting a bottling by The Old Malt Cask (Douglas Laing & Co Ltd).

Dougie and Jim have quite a few of The Old Malt Cask and The Old and Rare Platinum Collection bottlings, and Jim decided last Friday night to open his 25 year old Port Ellen Whisky.

Port Ellen Distillery,
Distilled 1982 November,
Bottled 2008 January.

This is one of only 300 bottles aged in a refill cask.

Aged 25 Years

Port Ellen Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky 25 Years Old 50% alc/vol.

Bottled by Douglas Laing & Co Ltd.
Glasgow,
G3 6EQ

The cork was taken out and the glasses filled.

Colour… Chardonnay

 

Dougie’s tasting

Nose…Nose tingling, medicinal with damp moss.

Taste…Exploding gum tingling peat and smoke, thought I had taken up smoking again !!!! heaven.

Finish…medium finish but dry and tarry.

 

Jim’s tasting

Nose…Sweet leather and light medicinal hospital hygiene rub and smokey peat.

Taste…On it’s own it takes your breath away, but Jim likes water and the addition of water it becomes a surprisingly smooth malty and elegant wee dram with bags of smoke and peat.

Finish…Short to medium length finish with lingering smoke and a contented look to my face.

 

From the above it was only Dougie and Jim that had the tasting the other night, just as well, we know that Nicola is not too keen on the big peaty ones, but prefers the Highland/Speyside drams.

Jim and Dougie as usual cannot fault any Islay malt but found that this wee nip although full of peat and smoke, it would appear it was a little short on the Islay complexity that is found in the other Islay Single Malts, but that by no means makes it a poor dram, it was a very good dram and with a splash of water it does become a very smooth and refined tipple.

As Port Ellen Distillery has been closed for quite some time you may only find some of their produce from specialist Whisky shops and independent bottlers who will have some casks hidden away for some future issues.

If any bottlers have up and coming issues of Port Ellen, please, please let us know, e-mail us now .