Port Ellen 37 Year Old 1979 – 17th Release (Special Release 2017)

Distilled in 1979 and bottled 37 years later in 2017, bottled at cask strength and limited to only 2988 bottles. Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown. Closure in 1983 has enabled this distillery to receive a near mythical amount of love and respect. While it's coming back one day the only connection between the two is the name and a few bricks. The refill American Oak hogsheads and butts filled in 1979 have crafted a whisky of exquisite balance and subtlety. The signature smokey sweetness is here in spades, alongside sugared soft fruits and grassy notes. Big and chewy, herbaceous and oaky. The watchword for this whisky is subtlty, it's so incredibly well integrated. Given the price more than a few of these are going to sit unopened on shelves. It's enough to make a grown man cry.