Port Ellen 1980 Independent Bottling

Port Ellen 29 Year Old 1979 Douglas Laing Old & Rare

The Platinum Selection from Douglas Laing is also known as Old & Rare. This Port Ellen definitely fits that description. Distilled in 1979, bottled at cask strength in 2009 at the age of 29. A gem, no doubt. The first things that stands out on the nose is a slightly soury element that reminds me a bit of the mashtun. Or a wet sheep. Then...

Score 94/100

Port Ellen 1982 The Premier Barrel

Nose is smoky, grainy and with an alcohol burn. Body is not real heavy and rather light. While a nice dram, it just does not compare to other Port Ellens I have had. Still has that typical PE undertone but the complexity seems lost. No real depth to this. Strange. Kind of like the 2009 Lagavulin Cask Strenghth..good but one dimensional.

Score 80/100

Port Ellen 1979 29 Year Old Cask#7089

Nose: Pine, dark chocolate - with water: coriander Taste: Blue Mountain coffee, phenolic, vintage leather, quite salty, chestnuts Finish: Incredibly long, cloves, peat, pepper and anchovies

Score 80/100

Port Ellen 1983 Milano Festival 2009

Port Ellen is extremely popular with malt-lovers around the world and Islay aficionados in particular. While the stocks diminish (do they really? I've been reading this for years and still an amazing number of bottles are released every year - thank the Maker!), quite a few independent bottlers seems to have a great number of casks to put on the...

Score 88/100