Port Ellen : 42 Year Old Gordon & MacPhail 1981

Tasting Notes and Characteristics of the 42 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail 1981 from Port Ellen

Tasting

Appearance
Bottled at its natural colour, this single malt reveals a deep amber hue tending towards mahogany, the result of forty-two years of interaction with the wood of the sherry cask.

Nose
The bouquet opens with indulgent aromas of dark chocolate, ginger and cinnamon spice. Notes of blackcurrant then give way to the sweetness of Medjool dates and vanilla pod, all enveloped in a seductive phenolic and peaty smoke.

Palate
The texture is velvety and full. The palate reveals rich flavours of fruit cake and oven-baked apples, carried by a rich, mellow smoke. These are followed by notes of peanut brittle, black cherry and a touch of spicy pepper, with a hint of seaweed recalling its maritime heritage. The finish is long, full and warming, marked by the lingering presence of dried fruits and campfire embers.

Pairings and Tasting Occasions
This whisky of rare complexity calls for contemplative tasting, preferably at the end of a meal. It pairs beautifully with high-quality dark chocolate (70 to 80% cocoa), lightly warmed Medjool dates or a dried fruit dessert such as a sticky toffee pudding. On the savoury side, an aged blue-veined cheese or a vintage Comté will enhance its saline and smoky notes. It is best enjoyed neat at first, before optionally adding a few drops of water to release its fruity and vanilla aromas.

Mixology
Limited to just 181 bottles worldwide, this heritage gem is not intended for mixology. It is an exceptional product to be savoured neat, without embellishment, in order to preserve the integrity of its unique and irreplaceable aromatic profile.

Other Characteristics
This Islay single malt is medium peated. It comes from a single cask and is bottled at its natural cask strength of 52.5% vol., with no artificial colouring.

An Exceptional Scotch Whisky: the Maritime Heritage of Port Ellen

History and Revival of the Port Ellen Distillery
Founded in 1824 in the south of the Isle of Islay, the Port Ellen distillery holds a legendary place in the world of Scotch whisky. Renowned for its maritime, saline and citrusy aromatic profile, it has experienced a tumultuous history marked by several closures, including that of 1983 which earned it cult status as a lost distillery. Its production facilities were expanded in 1973 with a maltings (Port Ellen Maltings) supplying peated barley to many distilleries on the island. Now owned by the Diageo group, Port Ellen officially reopened its doors on 19 March 2024 following an extensive £185 million revival project. More than ever, it embodies the union between an invaluable historical heritage and a vision focused on the excellence of single malts.

The Exclusivity of the 42 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail 1981
The 42 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail 1981 is a true liquid time capsule, distilled on 28 January 1981, just two years before the distillery's historic closure. This exceptional Scotch whisky benefited from an infinitely patient maturation over forty-two years in a single refill sherry butt (Refill Sherry Butt No. 290). This meticulous maturation choice by the renowned independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail has preserved the elegant austerity and maritime smoke characteristic of the distillate, while enriching it with deep fruity and spicy complexity.

Bottled on 6 February 2023 at its natural strength of 52.5% vol., this single malt belongs to the prestigious "Private Collection" range, and more specifically to the "Recollection Series #2" dedicated to closed distilleries. Presented in a sumptuous wooden gift box accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, it is a strictly limited edition of 181 bottles worldwide. Described as a lost classic that can never be replicated, this 42 Years Old Gordon & MacPhail embodies the stylistic apogee of a bygone era, offering collectors and discerning enthusiasts a heritage piece of absolute rarity.