This is an old Port Ellen, mostly because it was Bottled in 2000. The year of distilling was 1981, which made me interested since its one from my year of birth! I bought it of a friend of mine, Bram van Glabbeek, a few years ago to celebrate my birthday.

Nose:
Full sherry with some red fruit, burnt heather and a reasonably heavy smell. Although, there is also something crisp, like mint or anise.

Taste:
A full flavour, although I think it would be better at cask strength. Not too thin, though, and a tad drying. In the taste I also find light red fruit, strawberry and some cherry. Also, the peat is much more prominent here than it was on the nose.

Finish:
The finish is a bit more spicy than I expected, I’d call it strawberries and balsamic vinegar.

This is a very nice Port Ellen, not typical, since most of them are a bit lighter in flavour and have more pronounced peat smoke. All aspects of the whisky are pretty complex and balanced and it makes for a nice wintertime dram.

Port Ellen, 1981, 18 years, 46%, Douglas McGibbon’s Provenance, +/- 125 euro.

Nose: 8
Taste: 8
Finish: 8
Overall experience: 8
Price/quality: +1

Total: 33 points