Port Ellen 25 Years Old 1982 Cask #645 (Signatory)

This Port Ellen was from the independent bottler Signatory Vintage matured to 25 year old, from 1982, drawn from cask 645 and bottled at 60.1%. Just 486 bottles were filled. Port Ellen, founded in 1825 on the windswept south of Islay, was shut by DCL in 1983. Port Ellen distilled again from 2024, yet this is spirit from the closed era.

Heavily peated malt, kilned over Islay peat, set the smoky tone and distilled in copper pot stills with water from the lochs, to give a maritime, citrus edged smoke quite its own. An ex-Bourbon cask shaped it, soft refill oak that lets the smoke lead. At this age the smoke turns gentle and oily, the spirit deep, briny and refined. Port Ellen was matured largely in refill casks, which sharpen the smoke and leave the malt a touch austere. The spirit breathed sea air through long maturation on the island.

Bottled at a cask strength 60.1%, it is intense. A graceful Islay smoke runs over a waxy, briny lift, with soft coconut and vanilla from the oak. The texture is oily and coating, the smoke threaded with sea salt. The finish smoulders gently, oily and long. This is a piece of Islay legend in the glass.