Single Malt 12th Release 32YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
Ready to enjoy now; this bottle-matured spirit will remain in peak condition indefinitely if stored upright and away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Culinary Pairings
Smoked salmon, blue cheese, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
The Port Ellen 12th Release 32 Year Old is a legendary monument to Islay's distilling history. Distilled in 1979 and matured for over three decades before its bottling in 2012, this rare single malt captures the final golden years of the original distillery before it fell silent in 1983. Port Ellen's warehouses stood right on the edge of the Atlantic, allowing the casks to breathe in the salty sea air and damp maritime mist for 32 years. This long, slow maturation in refill American oak casks softened the intense, oily peat smoke of the spirit, transforming it into a highly complex masterpiece of soft leather, maritime brine, lemon oil, and subtle, sweet wood smoke. As one of the highly coveted annual Diageo Special Releases, it represents a finite piece of liquid history from a ghost distillery whose spirit stills were only recently revived.
🍾 About the Producer
Established in 1825 by Alexander Mackay on the south coast of Islay, Port Ellen stands as one of the most revered and iconic names in Scotch whisky history. After operating through various expansions under Distillers Company Limited (now Diageo), the distillery was mothballed during the industry downturn in 1983, achieving legendary 'ghost distillery' status before being meticulously revived and reopened in 2024. Port Ellen is celebrated worldwide for its distinctively refined maritime profile, combining elegant peat smoke, oily texture, coastal salinity, and nuanced citrus layers. Highly coveted by connoisseurs and collectors alike, its vintage single malt releases remain among the most prestigious expressions ever distilled in Scotland.