Single Malt Casks Of Distinction Single Cask 1297 37YO Bottled
⏳ Drinking Window & Cellar Guidance
Ready to enjoy upon release, this exceptionally rare spirit will remain in pristine condition indefinitely if kept unopened and stored upright away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Culinary Pairings
blue cheese, dark chocolate, smoked wild salmon
✨ Technical Specifications
Port Ellen is the ultimate 'ghost' distillery of Islay, a legendary beacon of Scotch whisky history that fell silent in 1983. For decades, its remaining stocks quietly matured in warehouse cellars, gaining mythical status among collectors for their unparalleled complexity. The 'Casks of Distinction' represents Diageo's most exclusive program, where only a handful of extraordinary individual casks are hand-selected by master blenders for private acquisition. Distilled in 1981 and matured for 37 years before being bottled in 2018 from Cask 1297, this expression showcases the sublime evolution of Port Ellen's spirit. Over nearly four decades, the intense, medicinal peat smoke of its youth has softened into an elegant tapestry of gentle maritime brine, beeswax, old leather, dried citrus peel, and delicate tropical fruits, representing a liquid time capsule of a bygone era of Islay distilling.
🍾 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.