Single Malt Silent Stills 22YO
⏳ Drinking Window
As a distilled spirit, this whisky does not mature further in the bottle and is ready to drink upon release, remaining stable for decades if stored upright and away from direct light.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
blue cheese, smoked salmon, dark chocolate
✨ Technical Specifications
Port Ellen is one of the most legendary names in the world of spirits. Closed in 1983 during a period of industry-wide consolidation, it became a 'silent distillery,' and its remaining stocks acquired mythical status among collectors. The 'Silent Stills' moniker pays homage to this poignant era of closure. Distilled on the south coast of Islay, Port Ellen's spirit is celebrated for its unique structural elegance, combining intense peat smoke, industrial coal tar, and maritime brine with a surprisingly soft, oily citrus and leather complexity. A 22-year-old expression represents a sweet spot of maturation, where the aggressive, youthful Islay peat has mellowed into a deeply integrated, sophisticated smoke, balanced by decades of oak interaction that introduce gentle vanilla, wax, and dried fruit notes.
🍾 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