Diageo, has today announced the launch of two 44 Year Old expressions from Port Ellen, as part of a limited-edition set to coincide with the reopening of the Islay based distillery in March.
The whisky used to create Port Ellen Gemini, was drawn from
three European oak casks distilled in 1978, which were specifically selected
long ago for this new experiment - before being split into two whiskies which
took diverging paths of maturation.
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| Port Ellen Gemini |
Port Ellen Gemini Original (54.9% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky which was further matured in European Oak butts - for longer than any previous release from distillery. The whisky is said to have smooth, sweet, salty and smoky characteristics.
Port Ellen Gemini Remnant (53.6% ABV) is a single malt Scotch
whisky, which was further matured in a remnant cask. A feature of every
distillery, the remnant cask is used to measure excess spirit from a filling
run. The Port Ellen remnant cask is likely to have touched some of the
distillery’s most historic whiskies and has now been used in the final
finishing of this latest release.
Saved by a group of Islay distillers at the close of Port
Ellen in 1983 and sheltered for 40 years, the cask was recovered and
re-seasoned, setting new life in motion through the innovative finish of the Port
Ellen Gemini Remnant. This finishing technique is said to imbue the whisky with
a golden garment of sea salt, smoke, dried fruit and oak.
Commenting on the launch, Craig Wilson, Master Blender, said:
“Marking the return of this iconic distillery, and a new light in its future,
Port Ellen Gemini is true taste of a legend reborn – a never before seen
release of two unique and priceless expressions of a much-revered whisky,
inspired by our rarest cask.”
He went on to say: “Port Ellen Gemini invites whisky
connoisseurs to compare and contrast a twin pair of 1978 Scotch whiskies,
shared in its original form and finished expression. The finish is nothing
short of historical: an extraordinary remnant cask that cradled three decades
of Port Ellen spirit, now restored and revived, a worthy touch to this rare
Scotch. It is a fitting tribute to the past and future as Port Ellen returns
once again.”
Limited to 274 sets, Port Ellen Gemini, will be available
from select specialist retailers in March for a RRP of £45,000.
Posted by Steve Rush