Port Ellen Distillery needs no introduction, I believe. This one comes from a refill butt holding no less than 712 bottles. Butts have usually matured sherry or wine prior to whisky. I remember this one was sold at norwegian Vinmonopolet for about 100GBP back in 2009 when I bought it. And at that time it was seen as very cheap Port Ellen. Nowadays, any single malt whisky over 18yo at 100GBP is seen as an affordable one in Norway. How time flies... The color is golden. It smells coastal, seaweed, sea salt, dried fish, dry white wine, malt syrup, peat smoke, tar, smoked bacon. The taste is peppery, peat, cinnamon, ginger, honey, chillies, mushroom soup, earthy, leather. What a great surprise, 26 years on oak usually tames the peat quite a bit, but not in this one. The finish is caramel, black pepper, soy sauce. Adding some water. Now it turns simpler, more malty notes and a subtle peppery character.
What a whisky, seems younger than 26, a real beast: 8
Next tasting: Ardbeg Distillery
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