Port Ellen – 3rd Release 24 Year Old 1979 (70cl, 57.3%)

This is the third release of Port Ellen, an official distillery bottling of a single malt distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2003 at 24 years old. It is natural cask strength at 57.3%, in a 70cl bottle, from a release of 9000 bottles. It has the classic Port Ellen character, with plenty of weight from the high strength. The nose is vegetal, grassy, lemony and malty, with lamp oil, fresh putty, walnut skins and marzipan, plus hints of antiseptic. The palate is waxy, almondy and peppery, with some drying oak; with water it turns to smoked seawater. The finish is long, rough, salty and grassy.