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Port Ellen 31yo 1979/2011 (52.1%, Douglas Laing Old & Rare, Refill Hogshead, 253 Bts) 

Some slight ‘greenish’ notes on the nose with some cocoa, , coffee grounds and then after some moments some welcome peat smoke. Very clean, a flash of kippers and brown toast (we’re almost headed towards Patum Peperium on white toast here but pull up just short – and in time). Then after some time languishing in the glass a striking moment of 7-Up (which can be interpreted as quite sweet). The peat smoke, while present, is very gentle and the coffee grounds make a reappearance. So far so good and quite jolly too! With time in the glass the peat smoke grows, not to Kilchoman levels but it does increase. The taste is quite gentle at the fore with a little fizziness and some citrus and the peat smoke ; the wash away pretty much everything else …hold on here comes the coffee grounds. Quite sensational. The finish is chewy peat smoke with some coffee caramel in the back ground. The finish continues for a long while and holds tight to the afore mentioned descriptors. Some delightful chocolate malt makes a late appearance.

Not overly complex but quite frankly who cares, this is really good and very well balanced.

$733

Score 91 points (to hell with your friends, damned the price, drink it all to yourself!)

Part four of four of Old & Really Expensive Week.