This whisky was distilled in spring 1983, a few months before they mothballed the distillery. It was bottled in the winter of 2007 (hey, shouldn’t it be 24y then?)
Port Ellen 23y 1983 (46%, DL McG Provenance 2007, refill butts #3402-3403)
Nose: salty sea air, peat and smoke, mineral notes. A bit of lemon juice and apple with vanilla. Mouth: sweeter, with some pepper. Again apples, a little almond flavour. Definitely oil as well. No distinct tar or asphalt this time, just soft smoke. With water: clearly grassier and slightly salty. The finish is quite assertive and peppery, with sweet peat and smoke.
Not a bad Port Ellen at all (are there any?), but no match for the (cask strength) OB’s either. It reminds me of Caol Ila in some way, although the Port Ellen is more robust and flavoursome.
Score: 86/100.