Johnnie Walker Ghost and Rare Port Ellen
12 December 2018

It was 35 years ago that the doors to Port Ellen closed and the distillery fell ‘silent’. In the intervening years, the limited number Port Ellen releases have become some of the most highly prized and sought after whiskies, achieving cult like status amongst whisky lovers of the world. This ‘Ghost’ Islay distillery, held in near mythical status for the sheer quality and character of its single malts, today finds itself at the heart of Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s latest incarnation: Ghost and Rare Port Ellen.

This represents the second in the series, after ‘Ghost and Rare Brora‘ last year. Today’s release has been carefully crafted by Master Blender Jim Beveridge and his small team of passionate blenders using eight handpicked whiskies from the four corners of Scotland, with Port Ellen at its core. Three of these are irreplaceable ‘ghost whiskies’, the other five incredibly rare malt expressions from the Johnnie Walker Blue Label reserves. Nothing is less than 20 years old…while the Port Ellen has to be some years older than that…

The ”ghost” whiskies from Caledonian and Carsebridge add layers of creamy, vanilla sweetness whilst rare malt expressions from Mortlach, Dailuaine, Cragganmore, Blair Athol and Oban deliver rolling waves of waxy citrus, rich malt and tropical fruit flavours - all perfectly balanced by the maritime smokiness of Port Ellen that lingers in the long and warming finish of this exceptional whisky.

Only a handful of people are lucky enough to try the original expressions of Port Ellen, as the liquid becomes increasingly rare. Established as a malt mill on Islay’s famous south coast in 1825. It developed into a major distillery under the ownership of John Ramsay from 1833-92. Port Ellen closed originally in 1930 but was rebuilt in 1967, and produced throughout the 1970s before closing again in 1983. Since its most recent closure Port Ellen has become a legendary single malt. This very special Ghost and Rare Port Ellen edition allows a new generation of whisky drinker to enjoy and appreciate the carefully crafted liquid of this unique, iconic and inimitable distillery by way of an outstanding blend.