Port Ellen 1982 26 Year Old Cask #2729 Old Bothwell

Tasting Notes by Tim F

• N

  Quite oaky and full, with a rather pleasant tinge of what Serge at Whiskyfun calls 'good' sulphur ie natural and not eggy. Hints of orange liqueur and exotic fruit, grilled steak, coal and woodsmoke. With time and a bit of swirling the sulphur drifts away, leaving pleasant notes of apricot, sugared almonds, raspberries and balsamic vinegar. A complex nose that keeps developing in the glass. Every time I poke my conk into it there's something new. Becomes more 'malty' with water and develops a kippery note.

• P

  Pretty full. A surge of sweet fruit and sooty phenols, with brown sugar, coal and a massive fistful of peppery spice bursting through in the middle. Intense chilli heat. The fruits are there in the background, laced with honey. Water softens it and brings out the malt and fruit, with some ripe mandarin and grapefruit flavours, very citrussy.

• F

  Long, drying, hot and pungent, becoming salty (very salty with water). I just can't separate the coal and spices from the sweetness, they're fused together. The brine is intense when water is added, but when that fades suddenly we're back to tropical fruits again.

• C

  The label says 'Cask Type: Oak', which isn't very helpful at all, but from the colour and the nose I'm guessing that this is a high-quality refill cask. Big flavours and constantly surprising - you just don't know where it's going next. Bizarre, but flirting with brilliance. A schizophrenic genius or idiot savant.