The Rare Malt Selection was a historic selection of single malt whiskies from operational and lost distilleries that were released by Diageo between 1995 and 2005. As with the Flora & Fauna series, they were often from lesser-seen single malt distilleries.

This Port Ellen was distilled in 1978 and bottled in October 2000. The distillery has become a collector's favourite since its closure in 1983.

Port Ellen is the lost jewel in the Islay crown, closed down by DCL (now Diageo) in 1983 due to an oversupply of peated whisky for blending and a perceived lack of interest in it as a single malt. It has developed a legendary status in the years since. A very rare 12 year old bottled for attendees of the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 1980 is believed to have been the only distillery bottling produced in its years of operation. Diageo bottled the first publicly available distillery bottlings as part of the Rare Malts Selection, this is one of two in the series.

This baby scored 93 in my book but that was eleven or twelve years ago (if you say how time flies, I’ll kill you – haha). Colour: gold. Nose: yeah well, as I said, it’s close to the Alambic, with maybe more roundness (no it’s no rounded whisky) and a slightly wider profile. So brine and tar up and rather less flints and paraffin. A little more fresh walnuts and apple peelings as well. Diesel oil, a little vanilla from the wood that I wouldn’t have noticed without having first tried the very naked DL. With water: nearly perfect. Once again, no complex whisky but who needs more than brine, tarry smoke, lemon and almonds/putty in perfect synch? Mouth (neat): that’s where this one scores better when undiluted, it’s all a massive, extremely salty and hugely tarry and liquoricy spirit. Wheelbarrows of salted liquorice and when I write salted, that’s an understatement. With water: purfektion. Fab peat – tar – salt – lemon – combo, with crates and crates of kippers behind all that. Finish: long, on exactly the same notes. A feeling of fullness. Comments: I can’t see why I would score this baby differently this time. Loved it and love it. SGP:448 - 93 points.

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