Port Ellen 40 Years
1982 vintage and the 2nd release of Hunter Laing’s Eidolon series. Just 403 bottlers.Port Ellen 40 Year Old 1982 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. The second release of Eidolon a trilogy of bottlings from the Islay distillery bottled by Hunter Laing & Co. in anticipation of the closed Port Ellen distillery being ‘brought back to life’. Limited release of 403 bottles.
£4,700.00
Deep amber in colour, the nose opens with immediate sherry cask influence – rich red fruit, cocoa, cherry, pecan, caramel and sweet pipe tobacco.
On the palate it is intense and expressive, with dark chocolate, espresso, citrus, polished wood, more fragrant tobacco and an all-encompassing Islay peat smoke. With time in the glass and a few drops of water added more herbal notes and a sea-breeze/oyster freshness are apparent.
The finish is never-ending, with old fishing nets, tar, honey, black tea and chocolate almonds lingering on. Truly a wonderful example of the legendary Port Ellen Distillery’s output.
Port Ellen Distillery was established by Alexander K. Mackay on the southern coast of the Isle of Islay at Port Ellen in 1825. Port Ellen was a malt whisky distillery but closed in 1983 and whilst some of the distillery buildings remain Port Ellen drum maltings occupy part of the site. During the winter of 1823-24 James Fox tested his newly designed spirit safe at Port Ellen Distillery prior to its introduction in all Scottish licenced distilleries by 1825 in order to comply with enactment of the Excise Act of 1823. Thus Port Ellen Distillery was the first Scottish distillery to install a spirit safe and James Fox was paid £428 for his work. Official bottlings of Port Ellen single malt whisky include the Port Ellen Annual Release and independent release from Hunter Laing & Co. are highly prized.