Port Ellen 1978 – 44 Year Old – Gemini

Port Ellen, after a quiet period of over four decades, has made a grand re-entrance with the unveiling of Gemini, a duo of remarkable single malts each aged for 44 years. Originating from three exceptional European Oak casks filled in 1978, these whiskies were divided and embarked on unique maturation journeys.

The Port Ellen Gemini Original, aged in European oak butts, stands out as the longest-matured release from the distillery to date. It delivers a complex profile of seaweed, ripe orchard fruits, followed by intense bonfire smoke and iodine nuances.

The counterpart, matured in a unique ‘remnant cask’ used for collecting the overflow from fillings, presents a rare piece of Port Ellen’s history. This cask, preserved by Islay distillers after the distillery’s 1983 shutdown, has interacted with some of the most notable whiskies. Four decades have enriched this malt with layers of tobacco, sawdust, and caramel, complementing its intrinsic fruity and smoky essence.