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Port Ellen 40 years

woody null
4.5
(2)€5,210Scotland, Islay, Single Malt

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Facts

When nine forgotten casks surfaced in Port Ellen's warehouses, master blender Craig Wilson saw something the rulebook had missed. Each 1979 parcel had wandered off the expected path, developing its own stubborn voice. He married them into one bottling that feels less like a legend retold and more like a secret finally spoken. On the palate, bonfire smoke and pipe tobacco sit over straw and deep woody oak. Leather and wood spice linger long after the pour. This is whisky for quiet glasses and unhurried attention. Sip it neat. Let the silence of the distillery speak through the glass.

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About the distillery

Distillery

Port Ellen

Port Ellen distillery was established on the Scottish island of Islay in 1825. The distillery was known for its production of heavily peated single malt whisky, which was popular with blenders. It operated until 1983, when it was closed due to overproduction and a decline in demand for whisky. The distillery's buildings and equipment have been preserved, and Port Ellen's remaining whisky stocks have been used in various bottlings, making it a sought-after collector's item among whisky enthusiasts. The distillery's iconic pagoda roofs and whitewashed walls have also become a familiar sight on the Islay landscape. Port Ellen's whisky is known for its smoky, peaty character, with notes of salt, seaweed, and fruit. Its single malt is considered to be one of the finest examples of Islay whisky, and is prized for its complexity and depth of flavor. In 2017, it was announced that the distillery would be reopened and restored by its current owner, Diageo. The new Port Ellen distillery is expected to produce whisky using traditional methods and equipment, while incorporating modern technologies to improve efficiency and sustainability. The first spirit from the revived distillery is expected to be released in the early 2030s.

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65Whiskies on Distilld

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About the Port Ellen 40 years

Port Ellen 40 years is a single malt Scotch whisky from Islay, Scotland. Nine 1979 casks that refused the usual script supply every drop. Master blender Dr Craig Wilson selected four American oak hogsheads and five European oak butts. They became this Port Ellen 40 years release. Only 1,380 bottles left the warehouses globally. That tiny run ranks among the rarest spirits ever drawn from silent Islay stills. Port Ellen stood on Islay's rocky south coast until closure in 1983. Collectors never stopped hunting its remaining stocks. The distillery's fame outlived its doors by decades. Diageo's Untold Stories series reached this 40-year-old chapter as rebuild plans moved forward. Unveiled in 2020, it was the second chapter exploring the distillery's past. Nine rogue casks surfaced long after distillation. Each had matured with a voice outside the classic Port Ellen profile. Together they offer a side of the legend whisky lovers rarely tasted before. Mild smoke meets burnt tangerine skin and roasted coffee on the nose. Ripe peach skin adds a soft fruit edge at cask strength. The palate opens with bonfire smoke, pipe tobacco, and leather. Straw sweetness threads beneath wood spice and woody oak tones. Wood holds through a long, wispy finish. Smoke fades slowly, leaving straw and woody oak on the tongue. The marriage of American and European oak adds layered depth. Pour this Islay single malt neat into a tulip glass. Give Port Ellen 40 years time to breathe before the first sip. At 50.9%, every note arrives direct and unfiltered. Savour it slowly on its own, without distraction. This bottling suits collectors who want genuine distillery history in liquid form.