Port Ellen 1983 15th Release Diageo Special Releases 2015 32yo Bourbon Oak Casks 53.9% 700ml

Port Ellen, a distillery founded in 1825 as a maltings and developed into a distillery in 1833 under the leadership of John Ramsay, has a rich history. The warehouses built by Ramsay still stand and are listed. The distillery was taken over by the Distillers Company Limited in 1925, closed in 1930, and rebuilt in 1966/1967. Production continued through the 1970s and ceased in 1983, although single malt whisky from Port Ellen is still available. When Port Ellen closed in 1983, Diageo demolished some of the buildings, repurposed others, and destroyed the stills.

The Port Ellen 1983 15th Release Diageo Special Releases 2015 is an exceptional 32-year-old single malt whisky distilled in the final year the distillery was operational, 1983, and bottled in 2015. This is the 15th edition in the Annual Release series, with only 2964 bottles produced, making it a highly exclusive and sought-after collector's item.

The whisky boasts a rich and complex aroma, beginning with a soft, sweet vanilla note derived from bourbon casks. As it unfolds, salted caramel and coastal notes of seaweed, sea breeze, and sea salt emerge, complemented by citrus and yellow fruit nuances. The balance is impeccable, providing an intense, rich, and thoroughly enjoyable experience. Its smoky, peaty aroma, combined with seaweed turf, ensures that this is a quintessential Port Ellen. Matured in bourbon oak casks previously used in the American bourbon industry, this whisky has a truly unique flavor profile.

Tasted during Feis Ile 2018 alongside the 13th, 14th, and 16th releases, this whisky was noted for its elegant nose and simpler yet tasty palate. On the nose, it is oily, lemony (with candied lemons), farmy (with fresh hay), earthy, tarry, smoky, and coastal with hints of seaweed and seashells. The taste is zesty with lemon, minty, and peppery notes. The finish is long, smoky, lemony, and lightly peppery.

Compared to other releases, this one is less fruity but more peaty and dynamic. It has a very smoky and leathery nose with strong iodine and a pungent alcohol presence, featuring fewer tropical fruits. The palate is perfumy, very sweet, and heavily peaty, with hints of baked apple. The finish is medium-long, with damp oak and chocolate spices.

In a detailed tasting session, this whisky was described as a blend of 12 barrels, put in at 67% and collectively bottled at 53.9%. The nose features peated chocolate, peppered ham, rancid tropical fruit notes, buttered coal tar, smoked ice cream, and heavy leather, earning it the nickname 'Port Ellen in a leather coat.' The palate offers a fabulous arrival with salty, liquid peat, malty peat, oily, mineral, fruity, stone, and flinty notes. The finish is fruity and smoky peat, reminiscent of previous Port Ellen releases but slightly cleaner and less dramatic.

According to the bottler's notes, the color is polished teak, with good perlage. The aroma is direct, intense, and highly complex, starting very fruity with red apple and fresh pear notes, evolving into lush toffee. There are also coastal notes of hot sand, sea air, seaweed, and campfire ash. When water is added, it becomes wonderfully honeyed with a sweet pungency and malty appeal. The taste is sweet, sparkling, and dry, with a blend of wood ash, roasted marmalade tart, toffee, and caramelized orange, followed by penetrating smoke and a spicy herbal note. The finish is long, cooling, and complex, with apple, roasted toast, lemon zest, ripe red apples, and baked plum tartlets, complemented by herbal notes and wood smoke that softens with water.

FAQs

• What makes the Port Ellen 1983 15th Release so special?

  This whisky is distilled in the final year of Port Ellen's operation in 1983, making it an exceptional collectible. It is part of the highly exclusive Annual Release series with only 2964 bottles produced.

• What type of casks was this whisky matured in?

  This single malt was matured in bourbon oak casks that were previously used in the American bourbon industry, contributing to its unique flavor profile.

• How does this release compare to other Port Ellen whiskies?

  This release is noted for being less fruity but more peaty and dynamic compared to other Port Ellen releases, making it a distinctive choice for collectors and connoisseurs.

Tasting Notes

• Aroma: Soft vanilla, salted caramel, seaweed, sea breeze, sea salt, citrus, yellow fruit, peated chocolate, peppered ham, rancid tropical fruit, buttered coal tar, smoked ice-cream, heavy leather.
• Taste: Lemony, zesty, minty, peppery, perfumy, very sweet, heavily peaty, baked apple, salty, liquid peat, malty peat, oily, mineral, fruity, stone, flinty, wood ash, roasted marmalade tart, toffee, caramelized orange, spicy herbal note.
• Finish: Long, smoky, lemony, lightly peppery, medium-long, damp oak, chocolate spices, fruity, smoky peat, dry, enveloping, apple, roasted toast, lemon zest, ripe red apples, baked plum tartlets, herbal notes, wood smoke, mint, barley sugar, honey.
• Overall: This whisky presents a rich and complex profile, with an initial sweet vanilla aroma evolving into salted caramel and coastal notes. The palate is zesty and minty with a significant peaty character, leading to a long, smoky finish complemented by subtle fruity and herbal undertones.

Reviewer's Opinion

In tasting the Port Ellen 1983 15th Release, I was struck by its elegance and layered complexity. The interplay between the sweet vanilla and salted caramel notes with the pronounced peaty and coastal characteristics truly encapsulates the essence of Port Ellen. While it may not be as fruity as some other releases, its peaty depth and dynamic profile make it an exceptional and memorable whisky. The limited production run of 2964 bottles only adds to its allure, making it a prized possession for any whisky aficionado.