Single Malt 16th Release 37YO (((Bottled 2016)))
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy now; as a highly aged spirit, it will remain in pristine condition indefinitely if kept sealed and stored away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Smoked wild salmon, mature blue cheese, high-quality dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
The Port Ellen 16th Release is a monumental 37-year-old single malt distilled in 1978 and bottled in 2016 as part of Diageo's highly anticipated annual Special Releases. Matured in a combination of refill American oak hogsheads and refill European oak butts, this expression represents some of the final, precious stocks from the legendary lost Islay distillery before its 1983 closure. The whisky captures the quintessential, old-school Islay character: a sophisticated interplay of damp peat smoke, coastal brine, and medicinal undertones, softened by decades of wood contact that introduced rich notes of beeswax, leather, and subtle citrus peel. It stands as a liquid monument to Scotch history, offering a sensory journey back to the golden era of traditional Islay distilling.
🍾 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
55.2%