Single Malt Prima & Ultima Fourth Release 43YO (((Bottled 2022)))
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy now, this ultra-rare single malt will remain in pristine condition indefinitely if stored upright away from direct light and temperature fluctuations.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Blue cheese, dark chocolate, smoked oysters
✨ Technical Specifications
Port Ellen is a name spoken in hushed, reverent tones by spirits collectors worldwide. Closed in 1983 during the industry downturn, the distillery became a silent legend, its remaining stocks slowly maturing in coastal Islay warehouses. The Prima & Ultima Fourth Release features an extraordinary 43-year-old expression, distilled in 1979 and bottled in 2022. This precious liquid represents some of the final casks from the distillery's historic era before its closure and subsequent 2024 resurrection. Matured in a single refill American oak hogshead, it captures the haunting, ethereal signature of Port Ellen: soft, elegant peat smoke intertwined with coastal salt spray, beeswax, dried citrus peel, and delicate herbal undertones. It is a liquid time capsule, offering a rare glimpse into the soul of a lost Islay giant.
🍾 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
52.5%