.port ellen - 27yo - the golden cask

Nothing much known about this whisky, except the distillery, the bottler, the abv, and the age. We have been given this miniature when we visited the Green Welly Stop on a previous trip to Scotland.

.port ellen - 30yo - douglas laing - director's cut #10124

53.5% abv, €1000, single malt, non-chill filtered, natural colour

Nose: pigs, hay, light smoke

Palate: sweet, dry, gentle, toffee, earthy, a hint of peatsmoke

Finish: dry, gentle, a touch of smoke
Mark: +++++ 

Conclusion: nothing special, even quite boring, I had expected more.
Value for money: +/++++ 

Quick note made at Jan Beckers' Douglas Laing masterclass at Whisky Live Holland in the Hague, 15 November 2014

.port ellen - 12th release

52,5% abv, €999, single malt

Nose: at first there is beeswax accompanied by wood, then there is the sweet fruity smell of apples and soft, perfectly ripe mangos, lots of toffee and caramel, malted barley, wash, the slightest hint of ash, grass, bacon, citrus fruits, especially sweet, red grapefruit.

Palate: she has a spicy and fat mouth feel reminding me of white pepper, a creamy, sugar-sweet layer coats the palate followed by fresh green herbs such as basil and especially sage.

Finish: dry and long finish. A sweet sugar on the lips and palate stay for a while, green herbs - again the sage, and a slight note of smoke and ash. After a while I get a taste of wash again. Lovely.

Mark: +++/++