Port Ellen 14th Release

Very fruity and drinkable - fantastic!

This was a treat. A sample from a friend and it didn’t disappoint. Very much a soft peat coastal dram, the oak was subtle and it had wonderful layers of sweet, spice, citrus and brine.

Tasted during Feis Ile 2018 with 13th, 15th and 16th. A very good Port Ellen. Fruity and sweet. Just less interesting than others I have tasted so far.

Tasting of releases 13 14 15 and 16 16th PE lemony and oily peat on its bed of smoke. With hints of toffee and small citrus zests 15th in line with 16th; just a bit below 14th in line with 16th; just a bit below 13th A bit more earthy and less lemony

Similar to its brothers, with the same industrial notes, paraffin and wax, honeycomb, with the sweetness of duchesse and vanilla. However, it finishes with bitter-sour tones of cold smoke, as if I had entered a damp, smoky room, goes into green, unripe tones.

Tasting Notes Courtesy of Diageo : Nose : Sophisticated and understated; dry overall, opening with distant, faint smoke, before a wave of familiar sweet and smoky notes, among which hints of hessian and warm wood are all that suggest great age. The distant smoke soon grows closer and more fragrant, while above it drift pleasing sweet aromas of honey-cured smoked meats or root vegetable. Through all this a fresh, cleansing note rises, to vie with sweet mint and sharp citrus - winey hints too. Finally, smooth, dark cocoa, some vanilla and more wood smoke. With water, first sweet, then more muted and savoury, though later a fruity clarity sweetly returns. Body : Smooth and agreeably oily. Palate : Immediate and lively! At first, rich and honeyed, the sweetness perfectly balanced by maritime salt as if to suggest sweet seaweed. Then, unexpected notes of citrus and ginger burst like lime and ginger marmalade on wholemeal toast. In turn, this sunny edge is clouded by sweet smoke, rising against a velvety backdrop of dark chocolate. The rich character remains in essence unchanged when reduced with water; still warming, the citrus becomes orange oil, with ginger and modest smoke.Finish : Very long and warming, with crisp ginger and citrus, and fresh, menthol-clean notes that rise against a backdrop of drying, oaky wood smoke. A glorious grande dame, superb in every way and with a poise and self-assurance born of long experience. An unexpected Port Ellen with a warming, spicy, gingery edge to its traditional sweet and smoky nature: captivating at cask strength, while a little water reveals a charming sweetness in the nose and richness and depth on the palate.

Tasted at TWE's Diageo Special Releases tasting. Widely anticipated as the highlight of the evening, tended to deliver. All sorts of OTT leather and smoky flavours, miles of depth, and far dissimilar to any other Islay, at any price.

A bit exhausted compared to the other releases in the PE SR, however still a great one!

Now I can understand what the hype is all about, unique even among the Islay and refreshingly so. While most Islays these days can best described as peat powerhouses that will bludgeon your senses with a peat cudgel, this one delivers the peat with deft of a master swordsman - immense yet contained with the malt ever present and a mineral-maritime complexity about it. Why anyone would choose to shut this distillery down is a wonder.