Port Ellen – 10th Release 31 Year Old 1978 (70cl, 54.6%)

This is the tenth annual Diageo Special Release of Port Ellen, an Islay single malt from a distillery founded in 1825 and closed in 1983. Only 3,000 bottles were released. It was distilled in 1978, matured for 31 years and bottled in 2010 at a natural cask strength of 54.6%, in a 70cl bottle. The palate is described as layering coastal sea spray, soot and subtle peat smoke with candied fruit, honey, crisp apple, vanilla and waxy almond, leading to a long, complex finish.