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Port Ellen 30 Year Old 1982 Malts of Scotland

Grand

0 1093

@markjedi1Review by @markjedi1

23rd May 2012

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  • Nose
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  • Taste
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  • Finish
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  • Balance
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  • Overall
    93

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Since 2010, Malts of Scotland has released a beautiful Port Ellen every year. First we had the 27 Year Old on sherry butt, which was simply marvellous, last year the 28 Year Old on bourbon that I recently put in an Islay line-up. Both were distilled in the year of closure: 1983. Now, MoS treats us to a 30 Year Old from 1982, matured on a sherry hogshead. It has a deep golden color with an amber sheen (first fill?) and beads like there is no tomorrow.

What the…? The nose is a lot less peaty and salty than I would have expected. It is delicately smoky, but very fruity. Canned pineapple, strawberry, rhubarb, sultanas. Quite jammy, in fact. Have not encountered such a Port Ellen before. Some marzipan, dark chocolate from Ecuador and chestnut. Coffee liqueur towards the end. Boy, the layers on this one!

On the palate it is surprisingly creamy and mouth coating. Soft and wonderful. The fruitiness has to make place for some smoked, salty bacon. Do you know those dades with a slice of bacon around them? Great stuff. A touch of woodspice. The sherry influence, just like the balance betwee sweet and salt, is near perfect.

The long, sweet finish, gives away the salty distillery character on the deathbed.

If you are looking for typical Port Ellen, this one will surprise you, for it is anything but. It is a grand Port Ellen, though. It will take a 225 EUR bite out of your whisky budget.

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10 comments

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

Sounds yummy as can be! Can you PM me where to pick it up? I think I'd like to snag a bottle if I can afford it and if my wife will let me hahaha.

11 years ago 0

@systemdown
systemdown commented

Jealous @markjedi1 - glad you enjoyed this dram. The fruitiness sounds intriguing. In 8 months I'll be trying my first Port Ellen, it's also a 30 year old and I'll be posting a review!

@SquidgyAsh - steady on mate, how 'bout you break open your Port Ellen first ;-)

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@Systemdown True my friend, true. So many different so little time and surely never enough money :D Not sure when I can bring myself to open this little beaut!

11 years ago 0

@markjedi1
markjedi1 commented

I'm afraid these are not available down under, mates. Only in Belgium, Holland and Germany. Sorry!

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

@Markjedi1 Systemdown is dead right. Half of the bottles in my cabinet have been imported from the UK. Plus I have some more bottles coming in from the US hahaha. So Belgium I can definitely handle!! I hope.

11 years ago 0

@markjedi1
markjedi1 commented

Well, good luck! :) LMK if you succeed.

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

HAHAHAHA I shall!!! The Toshan shall be with me!!

I can just see it now with the customs officials

Waves hand in front of their faces These are not the whiskies you are looking for.

Grin!

11 years ago 0

@markjedi1
markjedi1 commented

'You still have much to learn, my young Padawan.' :)

11 years ago 0

@SquidgyAsh
SquidgyAsh commented

Hahahaha awww, but if nothing else The Toshan Man shall be there to cloud the minds of the customs officials!!!

11 years ago 0

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