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12th September 2011 |
 Port Ellen 32 Year Old
1978
As
time passes Port Ellen becomes rarer and
more sought after. This is now the 11th
release of Port Ellen in the Diageo
Special Releases Series. It is also the
oldest release and first Port Ellen 32
year old to come from the distillers.
Matured in refill American Oak casks
filled in 1978 then bottled at its natural cask strength of
53.9% ABV, it is a limited edition of
only 2988 bottles
and has a RRP of £300.
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Port Ellen 32 Year Old Tasting Notes
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Producer's Tasting Notes:
Appearance:
Golden clear honey. Good beading for its
age.
Nose:
Mild nose-prickle, crisp and
mouth-watering. Sweet, buttery, smoky
and savoury (warm croissant with honey,
a wood-burning stove briefly open).
Dense, in time showing barley sugar and
caramel sweets above a light charred
note (wet sand and crushed charcoal)
that at last reveals the place of
origin. A little water increases the
charred note, now faintly smoky, then
indulgent marzipan or toffee notes grow,
yielding lemon zest, cloves and rich
vanilla.
Body:
Medium.
Palate:
Smooth, chewy, and sweet overall.
Cooling and slow, with clean, fresh
summer fruits and waxy, creamy biscuits.
Later, chewy, with rich fruit-cake. When
water is added, still oily, full-bodied
and deeply characterful: sweet, with a
trace of salt. Pine resin cavorts with
honey and light eucalyptus before a
faint backdrop of tropical fruitiness.
Finish:
Long, warming, smooth and sweetish
(Pecan nuts) then lightly astringent,
before billows of ‘welcome home’
coal-smoke and late charred notes. Water
softens the smoke and introduces
elegant, late tannins and tartness.
Summary:
An excellent example of the make that
will be loved: extremely fresh, light
and delicate yet immutably Port Ellen.
Long maturation has brought charm, good
manners, assured self-confidence and
understated elegance, without losing any
of the underlying personality.
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Other 2011 Diageo Special Releases
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Select a whisky for more info and
tasting notes.
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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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