Port Ellen 23 Years Old 1978 Cask #5349 (Signatory)

From Signatory Vintage comes this Port Ellen, aged 23 year old, from 1978, drawn from cask 5349 and bottled at 56.6%. A release of 232 bottles. Port Ellen stood beside the bay at Port Ellen on Islay from its founding in 1825 until it was closed in 1983 and long mourned. Its last casks were laid down in 1983, a finite legacy ever since.

Made in onion shaped stills on soft Islay water, building the oily, briny style it is loved for. 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. The slow loss of the angel's share, a percent or two each year, has concentrated the liquid over decades. Collectors chase these closed era bottles as some of the most prized in Scotch. The 2024 revival rebuilt the stills, but casks like this remain from the original distillery.

At cask strength 56.6% it is muscular. Lemon zest and coastal salt ride on embers of Islay peat, with a touch of vanilla and cream from the wood. It is structured and a touch austere, the refill oak keeping it lean. A long, briny finish smoulders to the end. This is a collectable relic of a cult Islay name.