Single Malt 10th Release 31YO (((Bottled 2010)))
⏳ Drinking Window
As a bottled single malt whisky, it does not mature further in the glass and is ready to be savored now, remaining stable for decades if stored upright and away from direct light.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked salmon, mature blue cheese, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
The Port Ellen 10th Release 31 Year Old is a legendary monument to Islay's distilling history, distilled in 1978 and bottled in 2010 as part of Diageo's highly anticipated Special Releases. Port Ellen closed its doors in 1983, making every remaining drop a finite piece of liquid history. This expression captures the quintessential 'ghost distillery' character: a sublime marriage of intense peat smoke, maritime sea spray, soft leather, and oily citrus notes, mellowed and complexed by over three decades of maturation in oak. It represents the pinnacle of Islay's historic, heavy-peated style, revered by collectors and connoisseurs worldwide.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1825 by Alexander Ker Mackay and substantially shaped under the tenure of John Ramsay, Port Ellen stands as one of the most mythic names in Scotch whisky. Situated on the southern shoreline of Islay, the maritime climate and proximity to Loch Leorin water sources have historically lent the spirit an unmistakable coastal salinity, dry peat smoke, and refined oily texture. Mothballed in 1930 and extensively modernised upon reopening in 1967, Port Ellen closed again in 1983 during the industry-wide downturn. In the ensuing four decades of silence, remaining stocks matured in predominantly refill oak casks, yielding expressions celebrated for delicate citrus, chalky soot, and balanced coastal complexity. In 2024, owner Diageo officially reawakened the distillery, recreating its original copper pot distillation geometry with the Phoenix Stills alongside dedicated experimental units to preserve its revered historic profile while exploring contemporary single malt production.
🍷 ABV
54.6%