Port Ellen 26 Year Old 1978 Old Malt Cask

From a single refill sherry butt #1709. Douglas Laing Old Malt Cask series. Distilled September 1978 and bottled March 2005. 568 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.  Palate: charcoal, barbecue sauce and salt. Nose: salt, seaweed, brine and bonfire smoke. The finish is soft, smokey and sweet.