Let’s finish this line-up of Port Ellen samples with this official bottling from the famous Rare Malts Selection (the predecessor of the Diageo Special Releases). It has spent almost as much time in the…

Chieftain’s is, as you are probably aware, is one of the labels by Ian Macleod Distillers – independent bottler and also distillers as they own Tamdhu & Glengoyne and are currently working hard to revive…

You do not often see Port Ellen on sherry. This bottling was released some 12 years ago by Dewar Rattray (A.D. Rattray nowadays) by order of the Belgian importer The Nectar. I presume it was the part of…

In 2009 the Belgian importer The Nectar bottled this Port Ellen. Only 193 bottles were available and obviously those are all gone. Thanks to a Dutch friend, I was able to secure a sample. Oh, lovely nose…

How many whisky festivals have ever bottled a Port Ellen, I wonder. Not many, I presume. But in 2009 the visitors of the Milano Whisky Festival were able to purchase this 26 years old Port Ellen at cask…

In December I tried a Port Ellen for the first time in years. No surprise as it does not cross my path that often and I am not willing to give up my left arm for a bottle. This cult whisky is now so…

No distillery visit is truly complete unless you bring home a distillery exclusive bottling, right? While I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting Talisker myself, I have been able to secure this…

Talisker was founded in 1830. So in 2005 owner Diageo decided to have a commemorative release: the 175th Anniversary. Maureen Robinson, one of Diageo’s master blenders, composed this whisky with Talisker…

Contrary to the ‘classic’ 45.8% ABV, this special Talisker, bottled for the Friends of the Classic Malts, it bottled at 48%. It’s triple cask matured, meaning first in refill casks, then charred American…

Early December I poured this Talisker 25 Year Old (the 2014 release) at a tasting. It was one of the highlights of the evening. Read on and I’m sure you’ll understand why.Surprisingly soft nose (for a…