Port Ellen – 1979-2019 40 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Single Cask 7236 (70cl, 54.7%)

This is a single cask Islay malt from Port Ellen, distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2019 at 40 years old by Gordon & MacPhail for their Private Collection range. It matured in a refill sherry puncheon, cask 7236, and produced 407 bottles at a natural cask strength of 54.7%, without colouring or chill filtration. It comes in a 70cl bottle in a wooden box. The nose shows red apple and gentle sweet spice, with strawberry liquorice, tangy citrus and a little smoked kipper. The palate is intense, with crushed black pepper, baked apple, fresh orange and mature oak, and a slight herbal edge. The finish is long and sweet, with wisps of peat smoke.