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12th October 2009 |
 Port
Ellen 30 Year Old
One of Diageo's Special Releases 2009,
this Port Ellen 30 year old single malt
Islay Scotch whisky comes from Diageo's
finite and declining stocks of Port
Ellen which sadly closed in 1983.
It was distilled in 1979 and aged for 30
years in refill American Oak casks and
then bottled at its natural cask
strength of 57% ABV in 2009.
It is the ninth annual release from
Diageo, and only the second Port Ellen
30 year old to come from the distillers.
It is a limited edition of only 5916
individually numbered bottles and has a
RRP of £200.
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Port Ellen 30 Year Old Tasting Notes
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Appearance:
Full, burnished gold. Good beading for
its age.
Nose:
One of the best Port Ellen noses
recorded. Little nose prickle yet still
lively. Complex, rich and rounded, with
soft pear fruit and a trace of tar, as
in a driftwood bonfire. Sandy but also
slightly sweet, with malty traces.
Behind this, fresh shellfish: scallop,
oyster with a touch of lemon. The fruity
notes fade to samphire and smouldering
oiled wood (that bonfire). Water has a
calming effect, raising a classic extra
virgin olive oil note whilst adding
fresh maritime notes and a herbal hint
(sage?). Further dilution reigns in the
smoke and some boiled sweet notes
emerge.
Body:
Firm and dry.
Taste:
More classic. Surprisingly sweet at
first, with massive smokiness. Austere
and flinty with a very light grip.
Salty. The smoke dominates but the
character remains pure, focused Port
Ellen and is everything you’d expect. A
good drop of water softens things at
last, producing a lovely texture and
great viscosity. As the sweetness fades,
the delivery of flavours shifts to the
centre of the palate, with more light
saltiness.
Finish:
Very long and warming, with lingering
peat-smoke.
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Other 2009 Special Releases
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Select a whisky for more info and
tasting notes.
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Diageo Special Releases Availability
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Diageo Special Releases will be on sale
in some 15 markets in North America and
Europe, but not all markets will have
all 9 products. Also available in
selected global duty free outlets.
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Where To Buy The Diageo Special
Releases
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Select a country for a list
of specialist Whisky shops who delivers
to you:
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Whisky Focus
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