Port Ellen 18 Year Old 1981 Provenance

Port Ellen is always a bit of a feast. Hence I am very happy to be able to taste five in a row. Let me start with this 18 Year Old that was bottled in 2000 by McGibbon’s (part of Douglas Laing) under their Provenance label. It has a clear amber color, hinting at a sherry cask, which is confirmed immediately on the nose.

The nose bursts with orange marmalade and juicy prunes and mirabelles. It also has a bit of garden hose or bicycle tyre, but far from disturbing. Cloves and parsley! Very discrete peat and barely any salt. Greasy coals. Having said that, it is all very gentle and absolutely not monstrous.

The attack is very soft (drinking strength, eh) and immediately slightly bitter and drying. Loads of oak, overpowering the fruit. Yep, the orange marmalade shines through this easily, but nevertheless it is a bit too drying to my taste. A lot more salty than on the nose, though.

In the medium long, salty and drying finish, I get a hint of chocolate and smoked ham.

A very quaffable Port Ellen, to bes ure, but I fear the PE fans might find this one a bit to ordinary. And maybe a tad too dry too. Apart from that, very nice PE. Thanks, Teun!

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