Single Malt 10th Release 31YO 1978
⏳ wine.drinking_window
Ready to enjoy now; will remain stable indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ wine.food_pairings
Smoked salmon, blue cheese, dark chocolate
✨ wine.spec_sheet
The Port Ellen 10th Release 31 Year Old is a legendary monument to Islay's distilling heritage, distilled in 1978 during the twilight years of the original distillery's operation before its closure in 1983. Port Ellen has long been considered a 'ghost' distillery, making its surviving stocks highly coveted. This particular expression, matured for over three decades in refill American oak and European oak casks, captures the quintessential, irreplaceable character of the lost giant. It weaves a complex sensory tapestry of soft, elegant peat smoke, damp sea air, old leather, and a delicate waxy citrus sweetness. The history of Port Ellen is steeped in the rugged maritime climate of Islay's south coast, where the warehouses stood open to the salt-laden winds, slowly breathing the Atlantic air into the wood over thirty-one long years.
🍾 wine.about_producer
Established in 1825 by Alexander Mackay on the south coast of Islay, Scotland, Port Ellen is a legendary name in the world of spirits, revered for its deeply complex and peaty single malt Scotch whiskies. After acquisition by John Ramsay and later transitioning to Diageo, the distillery was closed in 1983, transforming its remaining maturing casks into some of the most highly coveted and collectible liquid gold in existence. Characterized by a signature profile of intense peat smoke, maritime brine, soft leather, and oily citrus, its rare vintage releases—such as the highly prized annual Diageo Special Releases—are celebrated globally by connoisseurs. In 2024, Diageo officially revived this iconic producer, restoring its historic spirit stills to continue its legacy of uncompromising Islay character.