The first release, Port Ellen: Untold Stories The Spirit Safe, celebrates the ingenuity and forward thinking of the Distillery Manager, John Ramsay, who not only proved the value of a spirit safe but took the design further to ensure that the precious, carefully guarded, malt was kept pure and to the highest quality. At 39 Years Old, it’s the oldest Single Malt to be released globally to the public from the original, diminishing stocks of Port Ellen. This release was distilled in 1978.
Only 1500 bottles of this highly sought after and collectable Islay malt were made available globally. The bottle is beautifully presented in a wooden display case with a bespoke double key opening mechanism, mimicking the distillery’s spirit safe which can only be opened by using two different keys simultaneously.
Tasting Notes
Appearance:
Radiant golden amber.
Body:
Soft.
Nose:
There is an abundance of fruit; sultanas, melon, lime with a hint of ginger ale. Going deeper there is honey and beeswax followed by white chocolate and burnt toast.
Palate:
Smooth in texture with a sweet, salty then smoky taste. Cooling and prickly, as intense mint and smoke give way to sweet-white chocolate and fruit salad. Finish Complex, spicy, focused and balanced.