Single Malt 11th Release 32YO (((Bottled 2011)))
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy now. As a distilled spirit, it does not age further in the bottle and will remain in peak condition indefinitely if stored upright away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roquefort blue cheese, dark chocolate, smoked wild salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
The Port Ellen 11th Release 32 Year Old is a legendary monument to Islay's distilling heritage, representing some of the final precious drops distilled before the site's historic closure in 1983. Distilled in 1979 and matured for over three decades in refill American oak casks, this highly coveted single malt was bottled in 2011 as part of Diageo's annual Special Releases. It captures the quintessential Port Ellen character: a sublime, deeply integrated fusion of soft peat smoke, maritime sea spray, old leather, and delicate citrus oils. The history of Port Ellen is steeped in the rugged, wind-swept coast of Islay, where peat fires and salty sea air have infused the spirit with an irreplaceable, haunting complexity that cannot be replicated.
🍾 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.
🍇 Base Material
Malted Barley
🍷 ABV
53.9%