Port Ellen 26 Years Old Malt Cask DL4808 50% 1982

Professionele reviews

Serge Valentin (89)

Colour: straw.

Nose: a rounder one, with much more vanilla and praline at first nosing, but it gets then pretty similar to the 1983, with these rather sharp lemony notes and a few coastal notes (seashells). Grass, fresh almonds, cut apples… Also kumquats/quinces. And no gin fizz. Maybe a tad butyric. Once again, rather a gentle version of Port Ellen – so far!

Mouth: more unusual than on the nose, kind of honeyed and resinous, reminding me of oriental pastries (baklavas, orange blossom water). Certainly unexpected and much to my liking. Goes on with lemon marmalade, crystallised ginger, bitter oranges and even something like chutney (mango?), which makes it even richer, yet clean and perfectly balanced. Very, very good palate!

Finish: long, with a little more pepper and even hints of aniseed.

Comments: the nose wasn’t really outta this world but the palate was rather fantastic, round yet very nervous, very Port Ellen. Port Ellen with honey!

BOW (90)