Port Ellen 22 Years Old 1983 (High Spirits’ Collection)

A Port Ellen single malt, selected and bottled by High Spirits' Collection at 22 year old, from 1983 and bottled at 46%. Port Ellen, dating to 1825 beside the bay at Port Ellen on Islay, was closed in 1983 and long mourned. Its reputation only grew as the casks ran down.

The barley was heavily peated, dried over smoke from Islay's own peat, made in onion shaped stills on soft Islay water, for a peat reek tempered by salt and citrus. An ex-Bourbon hogshead held it, the soft oak letting the Islay character lead. Long ageing leaves a mellow smoke, a lanolin wax and a maritime depth. Coastal warehousing lends a saline, maritime note as the spirit breathes by the sea. Few lost distilleries are mourned as deeply, or bottled as devotedly, as Port Ellen. The refined, citric smoke set it apart from its more medicinal Islay neighbours. Laid down before 1983, this is spirit from a distillery that stood silent for forty years.

Reduced to 46%, it is mellow. A coastal peat smoke carries salted citrus and a soft wax, with soft vanilla and a touch of coconut from the cask. Soft embers and brine sit behind the smoke. It closes long, smoky and maritime. This is a revered Islay malt from a distillery silent for forty years.