Port Ellen
Single Malt - Scotland - 53.80%
8 A classic Port Ellen. A must-buy for peat heads.
Port Ellen 1978 31 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 54.60%
7 Another evolution in the Port Ellen saga. Less austere but also less overtly
smoky. Fascinating.
Port Ellen 1979, 22 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 56.20%
8 From a sadly silent still: a great malt that is too good to chill, but wonderful with smoked salmon or scallops. Or, deservedly, caviar. You serve vodka? Shame on you!
Port Ellen 1979, 25 Years Old, 5th Release
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.40%
8 A very good balance between nose and palate. An island character with a pleasant earthy background.
Port Ellen 24 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.30%
8 Very well balanced, this expression has enjoyed a great relationship with its cask.
Port Ellen 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 60.40%
8 A superb Port Ellen,more sophisticated than the Diageo one. Two styles. This one is more an indoor dram. Toeach his own.
Port Ellen 25 Years Old, Special Release 2005
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.40%
8 Old, intense and busting for an olifactory fight. Complex and grizzly, like Clint Eastwood in The Unforgiven.
Port Ellen 29 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 55.30%
8 That dram gives you a briny hug. It warms you without burning. A zesty queen of the Hebrides.
Port Ellen 30 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 57.70%
8 A wonderful freshener on a warm summer day, citrussy and smokier
than phenolic.
Port Ellen 32 Years Old
Single Grain - Scotland - 53.90%
8 Another shining example of shrewd cask selection.
Port Ellen 6th Release
Single Malt - Scotland - 54.20%
8 Takes no prisoners.
Adelphi Port Ellen 1975, 24 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.00%
8 Seems to have faded slightly with age.
Berry's Own Selection Port Ellen
- Scotland - 46.00%
8 This is top notch stuff. One of the best Port Ellen's for some while. Snap it up.
Chieftain's Choice Port Ellen 24 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.40%
8 Complex stuff going on here. A really rewarding Port Ellen.
Douglas Laing Port Ellen 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 Forget your herbal tea. Go for this fantastic Islay potion!
Gordon & MacPhail Port Ellen 1982
Single Malt - Scotland - 40.00%
8 A restrained example of this fine malt, but the silent still is almost out of stock. There will be few further opportunities to buy.
McGibbon's Port Ellen 23 Years Old, Provenance
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
7 Reminded me of old Calvados. Oak tends to overwhelm fruit but a wee dash of water tones it down. Very unpeated for a Port Ellen!
Old Malt Cask Port Ellen 1978 24 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 This one blew up a storm for me.
Old Malt Cask Port Ellen 1979 Sherry Cask 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 Port Ellen had such a distinctive character. This seems to be one of the less robust bottlings, yet has some character.
Old Malt Cask Port Ellen 1982 21 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
8 A big beast of a Port Ellen, nicely caught before the sherry-wood tipped it over the edge.
Old Malt Cask Port Ellen Sherry 1982 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 50.00%
7 A phenolic fellow. Tough on the nose, sweet on the palate. But the aromatic profile is not exciting.
Rare Malts Port Ellen 1978 20 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 60.90%
8 An expressive, arousing, version of this fine malt.
Rare Malts Port Ellen 1978 22 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 60.50%
9 Pungent, powerful and appetising. A dram for the Islay-lover and connoisseur. This distillery should be revived.
Rare Malts Port Ellen 20 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 60.90%
9 Bring on the caeser salad.
Signatory Port Ellen 1978
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.00%
8 More body and richness than the '79. Still not a great warrior but a hearty fisherman.
Signatory Port Ellen 1978 Port Wood
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.00%
8 Typical fragrant, alert Port Ellen, but the port finish lends more fruit and an amazing orangey-pinkish colour.
Signatory Port Ellen 1979
Single Malt - Scotland - 43.00%
7 A rather pleasant dram but a paler version of Port Ellen.
Signatory Straight from the Cask Port Ellen 24 Years Old, Burgundy finish
Single Malt - Scotland - 58.80%
8 Lots happening here. A complex and highly unusual expression of Port Ellen.
The Whisky Fair Port Ellen Sherry 1982 25 Years Old
Single Malt - Scotland - 59.60%
7 Anenticing nose,a gentle feel but the alcohol spoils the pleasure. It needs a good dash of water to be drinkable
but then loses some aromatic impact.
The Whisky Shop Port Ellen 1978 24 Years Old, Sherry Butt
Single Malt - Scotland - 46.00%
8 Bring on the pizza Napoletana (or if you are in Naples, the Romana).
Gone but not forgotten (Port Ellen)
In the latest of our new series,Gavin D Smith delves in to Port Ellen's past
April 2007, Issue 63, page 50
Island odyssey
Jonny McCormickreports on Isly's growing dominance
April 2011, Issue 95, page 96
Ask the expert
John Rose fields more of your questions
September 2007, Issue 66, page 31
Ask the expert
Now you can find both of John Rose's superb articles about collecting whisky in one place. In collections,John looks at books for collectors and the whisky enthusiast. In questions,he fields your enqu...
January 2008, Issue 69, page 34
The whisky island
Gavin D. Smith charts the distilleries of Islay.
February 2010, Issue 86, page 34
Under the hammer
In this 100th Edition of the Whisky Magazine which was first printed on the 20th November 1998, John Rose has selected six bottles at the price collectors could have bought them at auction in that yea...
December 2011, Issue 100, page 96
It's all a matter of angles
Dave ‘The Brush' Broom on potting, pirates and promotions
July 2004, Issue 41, page 12
Class acts
The Masterclasses gave visitors the chance to explore the world of whisky more fully. Brigid James picks some highlights
June 2003, Issue 31, page 22
Is it a bear or a bull?
John Rose with another selection of outstanding collectible bottles
July 2006, Issue 57, page 62
A week in paradise
The Islay Festival is the highlight of the Scotch whisky year. Martine Nouet looks ahead to this year's activities
May 2004, Issue 39, page 36
All at sea (Lagavulin)
The Mystery Visitor travels to Islay and puts Lagavulin under the spotlight
July 2005, Issue 49, page 42
The 21st Century's 100 Greatest Bottles
Jonny McCormick looks at the top 100 single malt whisky bottles auctioned this century
December 2011, Issue 100, page 24
Looking back
Jonny McCormick sums up an excellent year
March 2012, Issue 102, page 72
New Classics
The autumn is always an exciting time for whisky collectors and connoisseurs. There are generally a number of exciting limited edition releases,targeted at the gift market,and this year is no exceptio...
November 2006, Issue 60, page 18
spy
Fit for heroes
Former Secretary General of NATO, Lord Robertson, returned recently to his home island of Islay and the Ardbeg Distillery to receive a special bottling of Ardbeg on behalf of the ex-Se...
July 2010, Issue 89, page 6
Liquid mystery (Lagavulin)
What makes Lagavulin great? Dave Broom goes in search of answers at the home of one the world's most elusive malts.
September 2000, Issue 11, page 28
Marriages made in Hebrides
It's easy to spice up your food offering with whisky. Here Martine Nouet uses Islay and Jura to pep up her menu
June 2004, Issue 40, page 58
Nessie's local
Jonny McCormick explores a monster of a Highland bar on the shores of Loch Ness.
April 2010, Issue 87, page 24
Let's take a walk on the fragrant side
The smells of Islay reflect on some of its wonderful whiskies. Martine Nouet takes you on a sensory journey across the island and introduces its flora and fauna
July 2004, Issue 41, page 36
Distiller of the year: Diageo
There were many entrants for this category, some obvious, some not so. The award is meant to be for an individual, but a clear trend started to emerge – there was a regular stream of votes for Diage...
April 2003, Issue 30, page 19
Working on the malt line
What are the advantages of commercial maltsters, and why do some distilleries still have their own floor maltings? Ian Wisniewski reports
May 2004, Issue 39, page 57
The Eighth Wonder
John Haydock reflects on his many past and present glories
January 2003, Issue 28, page 82
A sense of Islay
Martine Nouet takes a scent and taste tour of whisky's most famous island as a preview for the forthcoming Islay Whisky Festival 2002
May 2002, Issue 22, page 30
It's Islay Time
Jonny McCormick examines how a clutch of Feis Ilé bottlings fared at auction.
June 2010, Issue 88, page 74
Islay Whisky Festival, the must for May
Martine Nouet describes the highlights visitors can anticipate at this May's Islay Whisky Festival
June 2003, Issue 31, page 28
The world at our feet
Modern whisky cocktails are impacting across the world. Australian drinks writer Naren Young takes a global view
July 2005, Issue 49, page 54
Join the debate
email the team editorial@whiskymag.com
January 2011, Issue 93, page 70
Star performers
Tom Bruce-Gardyne talks to Fred and Stewart Laing, the independent bottlers who are not only brothers and business partners but a potentially successful cabaret duo as well
November 2001, Issue 19, page 38
Maltsters Inc.
Ian Wisniewski reveals the secrets behind this rather complex stage of whisky-making: malting
January 2003, Issue 28, page 48
Up and up
Jonny McCormick on a record breaking month
January 2011, Issue 93, page 74
Germany hot over whisky
Thousands turned out for Germany's Limburg Whisky Fair. Brian Townsend was amongst them
September 2003, Issue 33, page 17
Whisky paradise
In the latest in our series on visiting distilleries Caroline Dewar looks at Islay and Jura
March 2006, Issue 54, page 38
For your pleasure
Jonny McCormick encourages you to
delve into your private collection.
September 2010, Issue 90, page 74
The deferred consumer
Ulf Buxrud had dedicated a large portion of his life to his passion for malt whisky, enabling him to addemble one of the most inpressive collections of its kind. We caught up with him to find out more...
February 2002, Issue 21, page 56
A dram online
Bruichladdich's Jim McEwan is set to bring his whisky tasting sessions into your home. Mike Gerrard reports
September 2003, Issue 33, page 23
Consultancy or scam?
Jim Murray, spurred by a reader's letter, considers alleged conflicts of interest
June 1999, Issue 4, page 9
Comfort and joy
Whisky pilgrims , tourists, locals- this summer's Islay Festival attracted fans from around the globe. Michael Jackson reports on a time to remember, while Marcin Miller travels east to catch up on t...
September 2000, Issue 11, page 34
Miles of Isles
What better way to visit the distilleries on Islay and Jura than on foot? Dominic Roskrow and a Whisky Magazine team have done just that
April 2006, Issue 55, page 18
Healthy Hart
Tom Bruce-Gardyne reports on a firm which has flourished bottling fine single malts
January 2003, Issue 28, page 34
Going native on Deer Island
John Lamond visits one of the most charming and laid-back of the Scottish islands, Jura-home to one of the country's most remote distilleries.
December 2000, Issue 13, page 28
In the summertime
Jonny McCormick toasts Centenary bottlings and welcomes a new entry.
September 2011, Issue 98, page 74
Smoking out the spirit of Islay
Andrew Jefford's Peat Smoke and Spirit is the best whisky book published this year. In this extract, he writes about trhe constitution of peat itself
November 2004, Issue 44, page 36
Nothing like a spot of pillaging
As crazy ideas go, pillaging malts on Islay for charity is pretty crazy. Dave Broom tracked down some of the guilty parties and asked them exactly what they thought they were doing
November 2003, Issue 35, page 36
Then along came the fire department
Michael Jackson reports on a hot night in Bowmore
September 2000, Issue 11, page 7
Whisky... it's not just for breakfast
In the matter of marketing, Michael Jackson proposes that Scotland take a lesson from Florida
June 1999, Issue 4, page 7
Under the hammer
Now you can find both of John Rose's superb articles about collecting whisky in one place. In collections he looks at some price guides for bottles at auction. In questions he fields your enquiries ab...
February 2012, Issue 101, page 72
French flair
Joe Bate shops across the Channel to check out the latest shopping opportunities
November 2007, Issue 67, page 53
Island hopping
Scotland's islands are only loosely connected and include vastly differing geographies, histories and whisky styles.
October 2009, Issue 83, page 36
Just a normal day on Islay
Yellow submarines, talking horses – par for the course really
July 2005, Issue 49, page 12
Being one of the best
David Stirk, one of Whisky Magazine's tasting panel representatives in Edinburgh, explains what it was like to be part of this definitive tasting and how he and his fellow panelists managed to suriviv...
June 2001, Issue 16, page 50


