Rare Malts Port Ellen 20 Years Old

Tasted in Whisky Magazine Issue 5 by Michael Jackson and Jim Murray.

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Tasting Notes

Michael Jackson Nose Appetising. Bay trees. Seaweed. Palate Lightly oily. Fruity olive oil. Parsley. Edible seaweed. Finish Salty. Smoky. Oaky. Extremely peppery. Comment Bring on the caeser salad.

Jim Murray Nose Surprisingly light for a big Islay. The peat is delicate, nothing like as seaweedy or intense as the other Islay malts from the south-eastern shore. Briny, malty. Palate Contrary to the nose, the peat arrives by the wheelbarrow-full. Sweet and heathery with gentle spice. Finish This trademark clean but dusty maltiness of Port Ellen. Very, very long. Comment This particular distillation seems actually to have exceeded the 35% ppm phenols that were the norm for Port Ellen. A stunningly peaty dram; an absolute must for Islayphiles.