Product Information:
Closed in 1983, Port Ellen has since become one of the most sought-after whiskies in the world. The Port Ellen 1979 22 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt is the first-ever release of the now hugely anticipated Port Ellen Annual Releases.
Port Ellen ceased operations in 1983, the remarkable whiskies distilled between 1966 and its final closure are as rare as hen’s teeth. These vintages have earned a legendary reputation, regarded as some of the finest ever crafted on Islay, and are now highly coveted by collectors and connoisseurs. Following two outstandingly successful rare malt bottlings in 1998 and 2000, Diageo (a leading global spirits portfolio) released an official bottling of Port Ellen every year from 2001 to 2017.
The great Port Ellen Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky was distilled in 1979, and after 22 years of maturation in selected refill American oak and refill European oak casks, was bottled in the year 2001. Just 6,000 bottles were available at release, all individually numbered and bottled at a natural cask strength of 56.2%. - Don't miss your chance to secure this rare old bottling and very rare collector's whisky!
Maker:
After 40 years of closure and a turbulent past, Port Ellen distillery reopened for production in 2024 to welcome whisky lovers making the pilgrimage to the Isle of Islay. Through immersive tours and tastings, visitors can experience the finest moments of Port Ellen’s past and explore the future possibilities of what the renewed distillery sets out to create. Glimpse the experimentation and innovation spearheaded by Port Ellen’s craftspeople and unearth new insights surrounding the mysteries of Scotch.
Port Ellen was founded in 1825, on the south side of Islay, by A.K. Mackay & Co. The Ramsay family operated the distillery from 1833 to 1920, when they sold Port Ellen to Buchana-Dewars, who formed a new company to oversee Port Ellen's affairs.
Port Ellen was reputedly the first distillery to use the spirit safe design. Its innovations continued under John Ramsay, who took over in 1836 and made it the first to trade with North America in 1848. Ramsay also secured the right to export in larger casks and store them in bonded warehouses, a practice still in use today. His influence extended to helping develop continuous stills, establishing the Islay to Glasgow steamboat service, importing Sherry and Madeira, and serving as Liberal MP for Stirling and chairman of the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.
After Ramsay’s death (1892), the distillery remained in his family until the 1920s when Distillers Company Limited (DCL) acquired it in 1925. DCL closed its doors to the public in 1929, but the distillery's maltings and bonded warehouses continued to operate until its reopening with additional stills in 1966-67. A large drum maltings built in 1973 still supplies malt to all Islay distilleries to this day. Port Ellen closed again in 1983, but whiskies produced between 1966 and its final closure have gained a reputation as some of the finest to have been made on Islay in that time. Following successful Rare Malt bottlings, in 1998 and 2000, Diageo released an official bottling of Port Ellen every year from 2001 to 2017, making Port Ellen annual releases the stuff of legend.
The Philosophy:
Port Ellen is a versatile malt, with considerable differences of style evident between different bottlings. Some sherry-casked Port Ellen can be beautifully rich, spicy, sweet and leathery; bourbon and refill casks often show a more austere, peppery medium-weighted style. Common characteristics, though, are a high level of peatiness and, in the best examples, a phenomenal complexity which Islay fans adore. Port Ellen's drams have always been non-chill filtered, with natural colour allowing for a full flavour profile, that's richer, and a more authentic representation. For these reasons Port Ellen has become one of the most sought-after of the lost distilleries by collectors, investors and aficionados.
Nose - Soft Peat, Tangy Sea Salt, Vinous Characters
Soft peat rises out of the glass with tangy sea salt and green grape aromas.
Palate - Bold, Menthol, Iodine
The palate is bold but not over powering; clean menthol and peaty iodine roll around with refreshing clarity.
Finish - Infinite Length, Sea Spray, Vanilla
It seems infinite, it is like the Islay shoreline is lapping at the back of your mouth as sweet vanilla, smoke and menthol swirl about.
The Finer Details
Style - Scotch Whisky
Country - Scotland
Region - Islay
Bottle Size - 700ml
ABV - 56.2%
