Pe5 - Elements of Islay

Colour

Gold.

Nose

I like it when the combination of peat and what might be a little sherry creates a feeling of espresso coffee, which usually leads to many rich yet elegantly sharp aromas. It's clearly what's happening here, as we get cigars, brine, seawater, earth (and lots and lots of it), mustard, flints and then bitter oranges (and a liqueur made thereof). It's not quite a peat monster so far but let's remember it's probably 30 years old.

With water

A kind of smoky honey plus old cloths and wet wool. Smoked sultanas? Wonderful.

Mouth (neat)

Rich, creamy and frankly, pretty perfect. It's bigger now, rather 'infused' and herbal (did they add a few drops of Jaeger?), extremely concentrated, with PE's tar and lemon adding even more depth and power. It's huge!.

With water

Becomes liqueurish, in a fab way.

Finish

Extremely long, peaty, rich, on bitter oranges, ginger and a little aniseed. Maybe figs in the aftertaste, and liquorice for sure.

Comments

A stunning beast. Heavy and great, almost Nigel-Tufnelian (yup, goes to eleven). SGP:468 - 93 points.

Comment

Oops, I think I may have missed Pe4! Anyway, I thought 1, 2 and 3 were brilliant whiskies.

This, the fifth of TWE's ongoing Elements bottlings of Islay's legendary closed distillery, does not disappoint. The nose is akin to salted chocolate, with a wasabi-like earthiness lurking behind. Port Ellen's charactistic flintiness is there in the form of rock-pools and hot sand inside seashells, while the smoke hints at sphagnum moss, marsh gas, and burnt cake. The palate has touches of smoked eel and a hint of pear. As enigmatic as ever, in other words. 89 Points.