The Port Ellen story is one with many chapters. Established in 1825 on the shores of Kilnaughton Bay, it was originally a malt mill, before becoming a distillery eight years later. Today, it houses a malting which supplies all the distilleries on Islay with smoky, malted barley. It no longer produces whisky but, following a dramatic announcement at the end of 2017, its restoration is now underway. In just a few years’ time its famous stills will run with new-make spirit once more.
To celebrate this iconic distillery, Johnnie Walker created Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen; a very special blend that embodies the Blue Label spirit, but with Port Ellen at its heart.
Read MoreCrafted by Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr Jim Beveridge OBE and his expert team, the blend features eight hand-picked whiskies, including five rare single malts and three irreplaceable whiskies from ghost distilleries. Single Malts from Mortlach, Dailuaine, Cragganmore, Blair Athol and Oban deliver rolling waves of waxy citrus, rich malt and tropical fruit, while the Ghost whiskies from Caledonian and Carsebridge add layers of creamy vanilla - all beautifully balanced by Port Ellen’s signature maritime smoke and peat. The finish is long and warming, with a complexity that can only be achieved by whiskies which have been aged for a minimum of 20 years. It’s a blend which deserves to be sipped and savoured neat, with a glass of iced water on the side.
“These whiskies deliver a fascinating glimpse into another world, exploring the unique, inimitable character of whiskies from a small number of iconic, closed distilleries that lend something very special to every drop of Johnnie Walker Blue Label,’ says Beveridge, who drew on Johnnie Walker’s unparalleled archives to create the blend. “It’s really interesting to be able to put a spotlight on the character of these whiskies.”
Johnnie Walker Blue Ghost and Rare Port Ellen is the second in a series of unique blends showcasing some of Diageo’s most prized distilleries. It was preceded by Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora, a blend that pays tribute to the Highland distillery Brora, another sought-after ‘ghost distillery’ which is also set to be revived in the coming years.
Custom-designed, individually numbered and strictly limited edition, Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen is a whisky that stands on the cusp of history. Be sure to experience it before it’s too late.