Port Ellen 35 Year Old 1983 Release No.11535 The Stories of Wind & Wave 47.9% 70cl

Port Ellen 35 Year Old distilled 1983  47.9% 

Established 1825 on the Isle of Islay by Mr. Alexander Kerr Mackay, it passed through the family hands from time to time until 1920 when it was sold to Buchanan-Dewer, in 1930 the distillery is mothballed for the next 37 years, when it opened again in 1967 after a re-build and update of some equipment, all seemed well until 1983 when it was closed like many others due to the economic outlook, in 1987 it was decided to permanently close. 

A greater part of the site was removed apart from the Maltings they operated as a separate business to distilling, it seemed the distillery was all but lost, until late 2017 when they announced it was to re-open, final permission was given for reconstruction in 2019. 

This distillery is under reconstruction so the information will change as we get closer to the opening of what will be a new distillery 

This 35 Year Old 1983 Vintage was one of the very last to come off the stills ahead of the closure in 1983, made on the original stills and craft of that time so it's a true dram of historical significance. 

Nose: This dram starts off on the nose with a rather distinct smoke and oak wood charcoal, some flinty notes nut never overplayed with toasted almonds and hints of fresh barley, some hints of citrus and barley sugar with some iodine.

Palate: The palate shines with an abundance of old Islay, some beach BBQ fruit notes, tangy sweet smoke and a warming peaty tang and more charcoal characters line the side and mid palate, A fine balance of peaty salinity and tropical fruits, sawdust and sweet spices with a subtle creamy chocolate sauce note. 

If you ever wanted to know what Port Ellen was like before its recommissioned this is the dram for you.