Port Ellen 1979 Rare Old

Port Ellen 1979 Rare Old Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Matured in Refill Sherry Butts, lot #R0/12/08 bottled 2013 by Gordon & MacPhail for the Rare Old series. 654 bottles. Port Ellen Port Ellen Distillery was established by Alexander K. Mackay on the southern coast of the Isle of Islay at Port Ellen in 1825. Port Ellen was a malt whisky distillery but closed in 1983 and whilst the distillery buildings remain Port Ellen drum maltings occupy part of the site and participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music. Most recent official bottling of Port Ellen single malt whisky was the Port Ellen 11thRelease. During the winter of 1823-24 James Fox tested his newly designed spirit safe at Port Ellen Distillery prior to its introduction in all Scottish licenced distilleries by 1825 in order to comply with enactment of the Excise Act of 1823. Thus Port Ellen Distillery was the first Scottish distillery to install a spirit safe and James Fox was paid £428 for his work.  Nose: Smoky and liquorice influences with fruity undertones and hints of pear. A fresh sea breeze aroma. Taste: Sweet, with peat smoke elements emerging followed by hints of aniseed. Some hints of kippers linger.