Port Ellen 23 Years Old 1975 Cask #152 + 153 (Signatory)

From Signatory Vintage comes this Port Ellen, a 23 year old Islay malt, from 1975, drawn from cask 152 + 153 and bottled at 43%. Just 790 bottles were filled. Opened in 1825 by the sea on Islay's south shore, Port Ellen was silenced in 1983 when Islay had one distillery too many. Its last casks were laid down in 1983, a finite legacy ever since.

Drawn off traditional pot stills fed by the Leorin Lochs, to build a smoke at once oily, briny and refined. An ex-Bourbon cask shaped it, soft refill oak that lets the smoke lead. Long ageing leaves a mellow smoke, a lanolin wax and a maritime depth. Refill wood flatters Port Ellen, holding back the vanilla so the smoke and citrus speak. Long island ageing lends a saline thread to the deep smoke. The closed years only deepened the legend around the malt. A whisky measured now in dwindling casks rather than fresh spirit.

Bottled at 43%, it is rounded. Lemon zest and coastal salt ride on a smoky, mineral note, with a thread of vanilla from the bourbon wood. It is structured and a touch austere, the refill oak keeping it lean. Salt, smoke and wax draw out the close. This is spirit from the lost years of Port Ellen, finite for good.