Something a bit legendary today, my first ever Port Ellen vertical. I am perhaps not the most eager Port Ellen drinker, but I find it a bit finer than the rougher likes of Caol Ila, Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Anyway, as Port Ellen is one of the most talked about whiskies online, I don't see any need of further presentation from me.
Port Ellen 26yo 43% Signatory Vintage
From a flagon-like miniature, recent bottling. No vintage or cask and bottle number on this one. At 26 years of age, this is the oldest one in this tasting, but does that really matter? Not to me. Golden color, this one could come from a batch of several different casks, some sherry wood involved here maybe? Not many odors here, seems like a neutral spirit so far. Needs some time to open up I guess. After a while I still get nothing, perhaps is this some sort of really shy Islayer? The taste is, well, this cannot be whisky? It's so light, more like tea. Wow, the disappointment of the millenium perhaps? To sum this one up then. A wee hint of earl grey and a small hint on soap in the aftertaste. Seriously flawed whisky.
Rather add tea to your Vodka, cheaper and probably even better: 1
Port Ellen 17yo 1974-1992 43% Signatory Vintage cask#6199 btl.224/2400
This one then, with the old feather on the left side of the "S" on the label, so much nicer than the newer labels, with hand-signed bottle number. But that's how it rolls. Renewal seems to be needed in these days as whisky sale is expanding throughout the world. White wine color, earthy and dusty on the nose, old attic style, small hints of peat along with some bitterness. The taste is fruity with lots of lemon peel and grapefruit. Salty to, some of that sea salt and wax(?) that I was presuming. Not much peat in the tasting on this one either, but it has much else going on, very coastal, fish stock, lemon, salt, ashes, vanilla, reminds me of some older bottlings from Old Pulteney.
Delightfully coastal: 8
Port Ellen 14yo 43% Signatory Vintage Scottish Wildlife
One for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, I have two of those tonight, lets start with the oldest one. White wine color, smells light, peaty and spirity. Reminds me a bit of the Ardbeg Blasda, though I know that's not as peated. The taste is more on the raw and sweet side, a perfect starter for any peaty tasting. Light, seaweed, honey, apricot jam, vanilla, oily, stearic, some touch of peat and a small hint of orange peel. The aftertaste is peaty and burnt, lightly burnt if there is such a thing.
Lighter than the 17yo, and a bit more weak-ish, but still good: 5.5
Port Ellen 10yo 43% Signatory Scottish Wildlife
Second on for the Scottish Wildlife Trust, and I do believe this will be my only chance in this lifetime to try such a young Port Ellen, only 10yo. Imagine if it was bottled at cask strength... I'm drooling just by the thought. You might have noticed that I don't always believe that age improves a whisky, many whiskies have reached their top level at very young age and I applaud the bottlers daring to release those even if they come from a distillery that will be worth much more if let to rest for longer. Ledaig, Fettercairn and Lagavulin are some of those distilleries that at a young age and bottled at cask strength, can compete with the best of what others have to offer (in my opinion). Anyway, back to the notes, this one is a bit darker than the 14yo, sort of in between white wine and apple juice. It smells of leather and old jeans, rustic, dried paprika, sweet chili, indian spices, different kormas, far from the other ones so far in this tasting. The taste is sweet and light, toffee-pudding, caramel sauce, honey nectar, sweet soy sauce. This is a very strange one, but interesting. Again this sweet dried paprika kicks in. The finish is light and short, no peat or smoke in this one. If this what become of the average Port Ellen after 10 years I wouldn't complain too much about the closing, but this surely isn't representable for many of the great bottlings that's now out there. Pricy and old...:(
The palate was good, otherwise no blast from the past: 4.5
Next tasting: Benriach Distillery
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