Port Ellen 24 Years Old Signatory Vintage Millennium Edition Cask 1764 43% 1975

Professionele reviews

BOW (91)

Serge Valentin (89)

For the record, we adored these metal tubes but alas! they were a little ill-prepared for the rise of online shopping and often suffered all sorts of misfortunes during transit. Colour: pale gold. Nose: a more restrained Port Ellen, almost whispering, with wet newspapers, ink, small oysters, and seaweed at low tide, followed by a petrol-like Riesling character reminiscent of Ribeauvillé. The peat never intrudes, and there are even hints of yellow melon. Mouth: the impact of just three extra degrees on the palate is astonishing, as we observe time and again. All the dials seem to be turned up now, especially those of ashes, pepper, lemon zest, and cider apple… Yet everything remains sleek and precise, indeed ultra-compact. Finish: rather long, peppery, and herbaceous, this time with a slightly rustic touch. Ashes and a hint of barley syrup linger in the aftertaste, followed by the impression of having just swallowed a small oyster. Comments: one of those bottles that allowed us to celebrate the arrival of the third millennium in style. I must admit the cask-strength versions from Signatory Vintage had greater breadth, but some of them could send you ad patres without warning if you weren’t careful.