Port Ellen 26 Years Old 1983 Cask #LD 5033 (Douglas of Drumlanrig)

Douglas of Drumlanrig bottled this Port Ellen single malt, a 26 year old from 1983, drawn from cask LD 5033 and bottled at 46%. A release of 440 bottles. Port Ellen was first founded in 1825 beside the bay at Port Ellen on Islay and 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 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. Maturation in old refill casks keeps the distillery character front and centre. 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. Smoke, salt and citrus mark it out from its Islay neighbours.

Bottled at 46%, it is rounded. Lemon zest and coastal salt ride on a smoky, mineral note, with a whisper of coconut from the cask. It is structured and a touch austere, the refill oak keeping it lean. Salt, smoke and wax draw out the close. This is a finite pour from Islay's most mourned distillery.