Port Ellen 24 Years Old 1978 10th Anniversary Bottling (Douglas Laing)

From Douglas Laing comes this Port Ellen matured to 24 year old, from 1978 and bottled at 57.9%. Only 602 bottles were released. Port Ellen stood on the Kildalton shore of Islay from its founding in 1825 until it was brought to a halt in 1983. Most of its make once went to blends, but its single malt became the prize.

Distilled in onion shaped copper pot stills on Leorin Lochs water, yielding the poised, maritime smoke of classic Port Ellen. Maturation in Oloroso sherry laid smoked dried fruit over the peat. Well past twenty years the peat has mellowed to soft embers, the malt grown waxy and elegant. Refill wood flatters Port Ellen, holding back the vanilla so the smoke and citrus speak. Walter Frederick Campbell laid out the village of Port Ellen in 1821. John Ramsay developed the distillery through the middle of the 19th century.

At 57.9%, undiluted, it is bold and smoky. The Oloroso brings smoked fig, raisin and walnut, and crystallised lemon and a salty tang ride on a soft maritime smoke, with a touch of vanilla and cream from the wood. A crystallised lemon and a saline tang lift the smoke. A waxy, gently medicinal finish lingers long. This is a collectable relic of a cult Islay name.