Islay: A Tale of Smoke and Seas

Port Ellen is one of two ports providing access into arguably the world’s most famous whisky island. With nine working distilleries, producing iconic, bold and punchy styles of whisky, they have travelled the world and made the villages of Islay’s names appear on famous bars the world over. Take, for example, Lagavulin, a small hamlet located on the craggy and beautiful south coast of Islay producing a smoky and rich single malt. Round the bay from the sleeping distillery are some of the great places to enjoy a dram on the island including the Carraig Fhada and the Singing Sands.

This 41-year-old Port Ellen bottled from two 1980 casks was the oldest Port Ellen ever to be released at the time, filled in the year Queen Elizabeth II visited the Port Ellen maltings. With only 555 bottles available for purchase, it comes from the two very last casks of 1980 which lived all their days on Islay. This whisky of majestic quality is rich and smooth with notes of brine and dry seaweed on the nose. This very special Port Ellen is a perfect balance of sweet, salty, and smoky, with a long, lightly peaty finish.

An interesting iteration of Lagavulin is this 12-year-old Special Release from 2023, unusually finished in Don Julio Anejo Tequila casks. Inspired by the spirit of intensity and pride that shines through a Lagavulin history more than 200 years long, this unique whisky explores the famed symbols of the ancient Mesoamerican art of tattoo, rich in story and significance. Sweet with juicy plums and a hint of saltiness, then ever more herbal and smokier, the flavours leave a long lasting impression for a lip-tingling whisky of legends.