Port Ellen 7th Annual Release 28 Years Old 53.8% 1979

Professional reviews

Serge Valentin (92)

Colour: pale gold.

Nose: it seems that this one is a rather complex version, which does not start only on big whiffs of burning tyres and lemons but also on soaked grains, porridge and wet ropes. The peat smoke is big as expected but it’s melted into the rest. Mullein flowers, crystallised lemons, lemon honey, vanilla crème, raw wool, clams, spearmint. It gets then a little more austere but never ‘brutal’. A civilised Port Ellen?

Palate: well, yes, in a certain way. Quite interestingly, this one reminds me more of an old Ardbeg than of a Port Ellen on the palate. Very nervous and very ‘wide’, with notes of tangerines, Chinese anise, bubblegum (hints), smoked tea, gentian spirit (hello Vienna?), crab, green Chartreuse and even Jägermeister, liquorice roots... Gets almost restless now, concentrated, big, bitterer and bitterer (more herbs liqueurs)... What a presence!

Finish: long, more on marzipan now, green walnuts, liquorice, kippers, sea water (remember?)

Well well well, we had thought this one would be a very nice and gentle whisky when nosing it first but at the finish it got quite a monster. A vampire? Great whisky anyway – nothing really new under the sun.

Words of Whisky (91)