Port Ellen Annual Releases

by **lambda** » Sun Oct 09, 2005 8:18 pm

Just noticed this at an online store:
Port Ellen 5th Release, 25yo (1979-2005), 57.4 %, 5280 bottles
(EUR 151.95). Starting to look like a pattern:
1: 1979-2001
2: 1978-2002
3: 1979-2003
4: 1978-2004
5: 1979-2005
6: 1978-2006 ??

So.. for those of you with more money than me: what's the best annual release so far? And in your opinion, are they worth the money?

I just had the fourth release, which I thought was fabulous. However, this was the last dram at a whisky festival, so it is hardly a reliable assessment

by **Lawrence** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 5:54 pm

5th Release??? We are just starting to see the 4th here and it's significanlty higher than the 3rd. The 3rd was priced at C$250 and now the 4th is priced at C$450 in Ontario. Even though I really adore Port Ellen my max is about C$250, we'll see what the 4th is priced at when it reaches the far side of the country.

by **Aidan** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 6:24 pm

They are all the same price on Islay. I think they were £150 and they had them all. I don't think I saw the 5th release, though.

by **SpiritofShetland** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 7:10 pm

The 5th is just on it's way out on the marked as we speek.

I know it'll arrive in Scandinavia some time during the next month or so.

I know Loch Fyne still has editions 2-4 for just above £100.

by **karlejnar** » Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:21 pm

Aidan wrote:

They are all the same price on Islay. I think they were £150 and they had them all

In 2004 they just had 1st and 2nd (at Caol Ila). They were supposed to have the 3rd but the delivery had failed.

The price then were £110 each. I bought the 1st as it had the best reviews. So the price has gone up a bit :shock:

Later at a tasting we had the 1st and 2nd and the 1st was the better one of them

Nearly as good as the RM 20yo.

In the summer I saw the 4th at RMW at £110, so it's not that pricy everywhere

Looking forward to see the 5th arrive here in Denmark. How many good casks of PE do they have left? There must be some from 1980 through 1983 also. In theory they could make another 22yo if they have enough casks from the last year. Anyway the number of bottles in each annual release are:
1st: 6000 bottles
2nd: 12000 bottles
3rd: 9000 bottles
4th: 5100 bottles
5th: ?? bottles

by **Admiral** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 3:37 am

Anyway the number of casks in each annual release are:
1st: 6000 casks
2nd: 12000 casks
3rd: 9000 casks
4th: 5100 casks
5th: ?? casks

Surely you mean bottles, not casks???????

How many good casks of PE do they have left?

I like your use of the word "good"!

Even if Diageo has plenty of bad casks left, I have no doubt they will be bottled and sold at a premium! :wink:

Cheers,
Admiral

by **karlejnar** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 8:30 am

Admiral wrote:

Surely you mean bottles, not casks???????

Of course - guess I was thinking too much about how many casks they got left - and I got carried away :oops:

I like your use of the word "good"! Even if Diageo has plenty of bad casks left, I have no doubt they will be bottled and sold at a premium!

That's what I fear too. I'm convinced they used most of the good 1978-1979 casks in the RM and 1st AR's.

But then again as said - there must be some of 1980 through 1983 they have barely touched yet. It makes good sense to use the oldest first as PE really peaked at 19-20yo. I'm not saying that 25 yo PE isn't good, just that the younger one's are (was!) better IMHO.

by **Mr Fjeld** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:08 am

Karlejnar - you wouldn't know if they sell Port Ellen Annual Releases anywhere else in Copenhagen for less than Juul's? Castrup perhaps?
It's very expensive at Dkr 2350,-

Skål!
Christian

by **corbuso** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:20 am

karlejnar wrote:Aidan wrote:
They are all the same price on Islay. I think they were £150 and they had them all

In 2004 they just had 1st and 2nd (at Caol Ila). They were supposed to have the 3rd but the delivery had failed.

The price then were £110 each. I bought the 1st as it had the best reviews. So the price has gone up a bit

Later at a tasting we had the 1st and 2nd and the 1st was the better one of them Nearly as good as the RM 20yo.

In the summer I saw the 4th at RMW at £110, so it's not that pricy everywhere

Looking forward to see the 5th arrive here in Denmark. How many good casks of PE do they have left? There must be some from 1980 through 1983 also. In theory they could make another 22yo if they have enough casks from the last year. Anyway the number of bottles in each annual release are:
1st: 6000 bottles
2nd: 12000 bottles
3rd: 9000 bottles
4th: 5100 bottles
5th: ?? bottles

For your information, when I was at the Port Ellen maltings in June this year, one of the employee told me that they had about 80 casks left of Port Ellen in the warehouse in Port Ellen or the equivalent of 18'000 bottles

Regards

by **Lawrence** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:13 pm

I'll bet that Diageo has some casks squirrelled away on the mainland. We're going to be seeing Prt Ellen for years to come. However I think the price will become unreasonable quickly and as Admiral said what of the quality?

by **bernstein** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 4:34 pm

karlejnar wrote:Looking forward to see the 5th arrive here in Denmark. How many good casks of PE do they have left? There must be some from 1980 through 1983 also. In theory they could make another 22yo if they have enough casks from the last year. Anyway the number of bottles in each annual release are:
1st: 6000 bottles
2nd: 12000 bottles
3rd: 9000 bottles
4th: 5100 bottles
5th: ?? bottles

5280 bottles for the 5th edition. It retails here for 159.90EUR per bottle. Way over my limit...

by **lambda** » Tue Oct 11, 2005 5:15 pm

Only 151.95 at http://www.spirituosen-superbillig.de. Think of all the money you will save... (no, I do not have shares) :wink:

by **SpiritofShetland** » Sat Oct 15, 2005 9:49 pm

Also available from The Whisky Exchange for £115.