Reviving Liquid Gold: Duncan Taylor Releases 40-Year-Old Port Ellen Single Malt

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky unveils a 40-year-old masterpiece from the legendary Port Ellen Distillery, distilled mere months before its closure in 1983. This single malt matured in a first-fill sherry cask, originally housed on Islay, then transferred to Duncan Taylor’s vaults in Aberdeenshire in 2010.

A mere 209 hand-finished, individually numbered decanters are up for grabs, each accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity. Port Ellen, founded in 1825, gained cult status among aficionados after its closure. Now under Diageo’s wing, the distillery is slated for a 2023 comeback, fueled by a multi-million-pound investment.

This release marks Duncan Taylor’s first Port Ellen offering since 2013. Euan Shand, Duncan Taylor’s chairman, heralded the whisky as an extraordinary find from the company’s extensive inventory, acquired in 2001. It’s a sublime concoction that captures the essence of Islay—peat from the kilns, sea brine, and a sumptuous fruity undertone.

Ian Logan, Duncan Taylor’s senior hospitality and spirits manager, will introduce this Port Ellen 1983 at London’s Whisky Show on September 30. The limited release will retail for £5,700 through select vendors like BlockBar and the Spirits Embassy.