Douglas Laing’s XOP Port Ellen 39 Year Old 1982
This one of one bottle of Port Ellen was vallinched from a single sherry cask distilled in 1982 and has been drawn ahead of this time exclusively for the “Distillers One of One” auction.
“We are delighted to contribute to this incredible Auction and hope the selection we have made adds whoppingly to the deserving charities involved. Having both tasted this essence of Islay, we are absolutely sure it will generate immensely great pleasure for the successful bidder.” – Fred and Cara Laing.
This Sherry butt of Port Ellen, had been reserved for release at 40 splendid years old, until Douglas Laign vallinched enough for this one-of-one bottle earlier this year. Pulled at the natural strength of 58.1% Vol, it is wonderfully dark in colour; the nose meets its visual expectations being replete with maritime and beachy quality amongst macerated fruit, peat smoke and warming spices. Anticipate a mouth puckeringly saline opening to the palate, amazingly fresh for its age, which moves on to coal dust, bonfire ash, gentle phenols and a smack of late soft chewed leather. The finish shows a hint of ginger, distinct malt mash and summer tar.
By its very unique nature, producing just one silk screened and wax dipped bottle offered its own issues. One was that after the wax dipping, the bottle did not fit into the box normally used for a capsuled bottle. Not to be impeded by this, the company chairman personally ground out the hole in the top of the box, allowing the bottle to fit. He extends his apologies for his lack of artisan ability but has absolute confidence in the artisan quality of the contents of the bottle after all these years of maturing.
About the Douglas Laign company: Established in 1948 by Fred Douglas Laing, Douglas Laing & Co is still fiercely family owned by the founder’s son, also named Fred (Chairman), and his daughter Cara (Director of Whisky & Creativity); so authentically still very much “hands on” in their third generation. They own the craft Strathearn Highland Malt distillery, and are producers of the King of Scots Premium Blended Scotch. Glasgow based, they are in the midst of creating a new campus for their ever growing requirement for new offices, cask storage warehouses, bottling hall, and bulk supply tank farm; where their Clutha “urban and gritty” distillery will also be built.
