Port Ellen 25 Year Old 1982 Dun Bheagan

Dun Bheagan is a label from Ian MacLeod distillers. Another one, for example, is Chieftain’s Choice. This bourbon hogshead #1521 was filled in 1982 and bottled in 2007 as a 25 Year Old. I will be putting sister cask #1520, bottled two years later as a 27 Year Old for Chieftain’s next to it.

On the very sweet nose (of a PE at least) I get loads of vanilla and candy sugar, marshmallows, lemon grass, banana and creamy butter. What a combination! In the second layer the more typical aromas arrives, such as linseed oil and freshly cut grass, as well as hints of oyster sap. A little smoke and even less salt, however.

Very oily, but the attack is rather soft, despite the ABV. Sweet and salt lock heads, but salt is victorious. Pepper and peat join the fray in full battle dress. The sweetness retreats. Nice evolution.

In the finish, which is medium long, the vanilla dares, under the protection of the peppers, to show its face at the frontline once more.

Sweet, quaffable Port Ellen. Thanks, Chris!

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