Port Ellen 28 Years Old 1983 Cask #DL 7244 (Douglas Laing)

Douglas Laing selected this Port Ellen matured to 28 year old, from 1983, drawn from cask DL 7244 and bottled at 50%. Only 292 bottles were released. Port Ellen stood by the sea on Islay's south shore from its founding in 1825 until it was silenced in 1983 when Islay had one distillery too many. Its dwindling stock became some of the most collectable in Scotch.

Peat smoke from Islay's bogs dried the malt to its smoky pitch, drawn off traditional pot stills fed by the Leorin Lochs, for the refined smoke that made its name. An American oak cask shaped it, lending only a light sweetness under the smoke. Decades have eased the peat to a soft reek over beeswax and old oak. Time in the cask rounds the spirit, the smoke settling into a soft, waxy depth. Its smoke leans citric and mineral rather than tarry and medicinal. The casks were filled before the stills fell silent in 1983.

At its natural 50% it is rich and briny. A soft maritime smoke carries maritime salt and citrus, with a touch of vanilla and cream from the wood. Beneath the peat run lemon, wax and a mineral note. A waxy, gently medicinal finish lingers long. This is a collectable relic of a cult Islay name.