Port Ellen 24 Years Old 1982 Cask #DL 3915 (Douglas Laing)

This is a Port Ellen single malt, chosen and bottled by Douglas Laing, aged 24 year old, from 1982, drawn from cask DL 3915 and bottled at 50%. 476 bottles in all. Built in 1825 on Islay's southern coast near the village of Port Ellen, Port Ellen was closed in 1983 in the whisky downturn. Annual Special Releases through Diageo sealed its mythic status.

Islay peat dried the malt, lending the spirit its coastal smoke, giving the elegant, structured smoke that set Port Ellen apart. The spirit was run through copper pot stills on soft island water. An American oak cask shaped it, lending only a light sweetness under the smoke. Long ageing leaves a mellow smoke, a lanolin wax and a maritime depth. The peat phenols fade only slowly, which is why even very old Port Ellen keeps its smoke.

At a full 50% it is concentrated and oily. A light vanilla from the refill oak, while a graceful Islay smoke carries brine, wax and a mineral edge. A lanolin wax and a coastal salinity give it real weight. The finish smoulders gently, oily and long. This is stock from the legendary closed era, ever scarcer.