Port Ellen 31 Year Old 1982 Douglas Laing Old Particular
Subtle Whopper
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Review by @markjedi1
- Nose~
- Taste~
- Finish~
- Balance~
- Overall91
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- Brand: Port Ellen
- Type: Scotch
- Region: Islay
- ABV: 51.5%
What can I say? Port Ellen is one of the few whiskies that almost constantly lives up to its cult status. So I was very much looking forward to this one, as only a dozen of bottles were destined for the Belgian market.
The peat on the nose is sweet and mellow. Some salmiak, liquorice and flints. Mild smokiness. Underneath a wonderful fruitiness on apples, apricots and peach. Yes, the apricots stand out. Some camphor as well. Vanilla and honey, albeit quite subtle.
Very oily and honeysweet on the palate. The sweet fruit returns, underlined by the sweet peat that is now a little more powerful. Liquorice is louder too. Despite the high age, not a trace of tannins. Some mint, though, giving it a freshness that belies its 31 long years. Sugared almonds and a hint of espresso. Sherry cask?
I would not have minded if the finish lasted a little longer, but I am not complaining either.
Again a very elegant Port Ellen. A subtle whopper, but with a whopping price tag as well. Around 500 EUR.
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I would love a taste of Port Ellen some day, as it is the only Islay distillery I haven't tried yet. But too damn expensive, I mean for the price of a sample you can already buy yourself a full bottle of an exquisite whisky. So when you say you payed only €500 for it, you're a lucky man.