Port Ellen 8th Annual Release 1978 29 Years Old (2008)

DESCRIPTION

The eighth release of Diageo's Port Ellens is the fourth from 1978 and arrives in slightly tweaked packaging with a new box design, although the label remains largely the same.

TASTING NOTES (by Whiskyfun.com)

Already the eighth release! My! Feeling old over here… Colour: pale gold. Nose: this one isn’t extremely expressive either at first sniffing but there’s still more peat and more maritime notes than in the 1982. It’s also a bit yoghurty, lemony, ‘walnutty’… With water: more walnuts, more apple peelings, whiffs of cold ashes and used matches. Just like in the 1982, more mint as well. Mouth (neat): powerful, very peaty but also kind of candied, maybe tasting a tad younger than it actually is. Dried pears, quince jelly, hints of marshmallows… Then quite some mint, verbena and liquorice. Gets better after a moment, it’s the attack that’s maybe a tad less impressive than in earlier batches. With water: gets grassier, maybe a tad bitter and even slightly tannic. Finish: long, grassy, on apple peelings. Quite some pepper as well. Comments: very good but maybe not the best official Port Ellen in our opinion, we feel it somewhat lacks the notes of fresh tarmac and the zing that were so typical. Or, gran horror, are the best PE’s gone for good? We may get the answer to this existential question in September 2009… SGP:337 – 87 points (still!)

PRODUCT SUMMARY