Official Port Ellen is fast becoming unaffordable. Hence I count myself lucky to have so many whisky buddies who are willing to share. I once had a bottle of the 7th Release, but that is long gone. Today I can put the 8th and 9th Release head-to-head. This 8th Release was bottled in 2008.
The nose is soft, but expressive. Loads of citrus and ashes, little bit of silt and peat. Very sweet, actually. Peach with some vanilla and something milky that makes it a bit creamy. Apple, walnuts and mint. Icing sugar. Good!
Sturdy, peaty attack. Immediately very sweet again on candied fruit. Pear and citrus, mostly. Very spicy too. Loads of woodspice. Liquorice and mint. Aniseed? But not as brutal or austere as some PE tend to be. Although, it must be said, it does grow on the palate.
The finish is long on white fruit and smoke, with a salty lining.
Not as powerful and complex as the 9th Release, but nevertheless a grand PE. The most quaffable PE (of the official releases that I have tasted so far).
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