SCOTTISH WHISKY

SCOTTISH WHISKY

PORT ELLEN

SCOTTISH WHISKY

Like Bowmore, Port Ellen is a large and pretty village which grew up around a distillery. And, like the other distilleries on Islay. Port Ellen was built on the shore, where piers could be erected for convenient communications with the mainland.

SCOTTISH WHISKY

Tile distillery was built in the 1820s and passed into the hands of John Ramsay in 1836, following the bankruptcy of its founder AK Mackay.

Ramsay was a pioneering figure in the whisky industry, helping Stein and Coffey in their experiments with the Patent Still, and was the first distiller to implement the use of the spirit safe.

He used his influence to persuade the Government to allow whisky to be bonded duty-free for export, and to allow export in casks holding more than 80 gallons (360 litres). His own malt whisky was exported direct to the US from Port Ellen.

SCOTTISH WHISKY

The distillery was acquired by DCL in 1925 and was closed until 1967. Despite extensive refurbishment at that time, it ceased operation in 1983, although its plant is still in place.

A substantial makings was built adjacent to the distillery' in 1973. with eight steeps and seven drums, and by a concordat signed in 1987 which was intended to preserve local employment, all the Islay distillers agreed lo buy from this makings.

 

SCOTTISH WHISKY

Tasting Notes

G&M 1978 (63-3%): Mid gold in colour, with a big, phenolic nose - bonfires and iodine. With water, gentler, more mossy notes emerge, and some spice, which lends interest and complexity. Full flavoured; sweet, then dry and salty, with a lingering finish.

SMWS @ 16 Years (61.4%): Mid gold, with a wild nose - acrid as burning peat, with traces of sweat, urine and decaying fruit. The taste is perfectly delicious: powerful, sweet, spicy and exquisite, with a long smoky aftertaste. A classic of its kind it will recommend itself to gastronomic masochists.


Hi do you want to know more about whisky, why not go to my blog under the title's [ HOW TO DRINK WHISKY ]  & read one or more of the review's about whisky.