Port Ellen 1982 (Whisky-Doris)

After the Bunnahabhain 1980 from Whisky-Doris, here’s a Port Ellen 1982 recently launched by the same retailer.

Port Ellen 29 yo 1982 (58,5%, Whisky-Doris 2011, bourbon hogshead #18, 212 btl.)

Nose: quite a mineral Port Ellen, with big notes of limestone, wet rocks, wool, coal oven… but a nice underlying fruitiness (yellow apples, huge lemon) makes sure it doesn’t get too austere. Overtones of menthol and medicinal aromas. Quite layered and balanced, I really like this.

Mouth: punchy delivery on oily peat, lemon and liquorice. Less rounded now, fairly dry, still showing quite some iodine and medicinal touches. A little salt and ginger before it settles on grassy and mineral notes.

Finish: very long, half grassy / half fruity, with a clear salty twist.

An great Port Ellen, with an excellent nose and a textbook palate if you fancy the mineral, grassy and slightly austere type of Port Ellen. Available from Whisky-Doris, € 210.

Score: 90/100