Port Ellen 2nd Annual Release 59.35% 1978

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (90)

Colour: pale gold.

Nose: austere, stony, flinty and grassy. Cold ashes. A little difficult without water. With water: the tar comes out a little, a little paraffin, fusel oil, butter, smoked tea. Classic austerity.

Mouth (neat): sweeter but still a little aggressive. Candied oranges, dried pears, sugared lemon juice… With water: nice farmy notes, dried apples and pears. Unusual notes of figs.

Finish: long, rather sweet, peaty… Not the very best Annual Release I think bit still an excellent peaty Islayer.

Gal Granov (90)

Nose: Quite grassy , with hints of basil and eucalyptus some farmy notes ( yea stables, manure ) , citrus and also a nice fruity note mostly of pear , and a golden syrup /honeycomb note too.

Palate: the palate is fiercer with the high abv playing a nice part… Hot pepper up front, then getting bitter and peaty with the farmy notes and some bitter espresso taking the lead. There’s a nice waxy note in there too as well as ripe orange , and a earthy note as well.

Finish : Long… with bitter earthy peat , espresso and a creamy cereal note too. Wax.

A rather excellent whisky, with a good nose, and a much better palate for sure, with more complexity, and depth

Words of Whisky (91)