Port Ellen 28 年1983/2011

Port Ellen 28 yo 1983/2011 (54.6%, Douglas Laing, Old & Rare, 227 bottles) 

Colour: amber. Nose: it’s a full sherry cask this time! Bursts with gunpowder, cigars and struck matches, which only increases the tarry/smoky side of PE. Add to that quite some dark chocolate and leather and you get a rather extreme beast. Curious to check what water will do to this little monster… With water: softens it all, makes it more coastal, more complex and more delicate. In short, works. Oh, and tames the gunpowder. Mouth (neat): again, it’s heavy stuff. Mix straight smoke, a little raspberry jam, maybe blackcurrants, liquorice, liquid tar (or the liqueur made thereof), bitter oranges, chocolate, coffee-schnapps and strong black tea and you get, well, this. As I said, it’s quite heavy. With water: works again, maybe a notch less than with the nose. More pepper comes out, more ginger as well, plus that briny side. The peat remains big. Finish: long and very ashy. Smoke and orange-filled chocolate in the aftertaste. Comments: I tend to like the straight ‘natural’ PEs a little better but this is spectacular indeed. High quality. 

SGP:567 - 90 points.