Single Malt 12th Release 32YO
⏳ Drinking Window
As a high-strength, well-matured single malt Scotch whisky, it does not age further in the bottle and is ready to enjoy immediately. It will remain in peak condition indefinitely if stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Roquefort blue cheese, high-quality dark chocolate, smoked wild salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
The Port Ellen 12th Release 32 Year Old is a legendary monument to Islay's lost distilling heritage. Distilled in 1979 during the twilight years of the original distillery's operation before its silent period began in 1983, this highly coveted single malt was matured in refill American oak casks and bottled in 2012 as part of Diageo's annual Special Releases. Port Ellen has achieved mythical status among collectors and connoisseurs, celebrated for its unique combination of intense maritime peat smoke, oily citrus, soft leather, and elegant, waxen complexity. This expression captures the hauntingly beautiful, industrial-coastal character of the south coast of Islay, offering a liquid time capsule of a bygone era in Scotch whisky history.
🍾 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
52.5%