Port Ellen 44 12 months Previous Gemini Unique Cask – Is This $56,000 Whisky Value Consuming?

What Makes The Port Ellen 44 12 months Previous Gemini Unique Cask A Actual Collectors Piece?

With solely a restricted, international launch of 274 units obtainable – and with most of these units solely being obtainable by means of Diageo’s Non-public Consumer Programme, this Port Ellen 44 12 months Previous Gemini Unique Cask is genuinely going to be troublesome to supply, not to mention see or contact. One other key level is that they’re solely obtainable as a set – you may’t purchase one bottle that will carry out higher at public sale than the opposite, in concept.

You would need to tackle these contrasting labels, flavors, and histories, all mixed in that completely gorgeous presentation that overshadows most premium and restricted version releases from loads of different manufacturers throughout the globe.

Not solely that, however Diageo has reopened Port Ellen and once they do select to launch liquid, will probably be shut, very shut, particularly in spite of everything the cash they’ve spent on getting the stills as shut as they may to the originals.

However, and it’s a giant however, there’ll all the time be the parents who need to style the contrasts in outdated and new, you’ll all the time have the concept of ‘authentic’ Port Ellen being thrown into the combination as we strategy these first distillation dates of recent Port Ellen. No different launch has ever seemed this good, and no different launch has ever been this restricted, they’re official bottles that all the time search a better worth level throughout public sale historical past, and you’ve got two slightly unbelievable tales of casks which were genuinely sorted attributable to how particular the contents are.

Additionally, if you happen to resolve to open them after buy, you’ll come throughout the flavors of, at this level, the very best outdated Islay whiskies that we’ve tasted up to now.

Comparisons To Youthful/Different Port Ellen Releases

Many people have been privileged sufficient to attempt some Port Ellen in some unspecified time in the future in our whisky journeys, hopefully! However these whiskies are simply on a distinct degree of taste.

The earlier yearly releases of Port Ellen inside the Diageo Particular Releases did supply good selection and magnificence – a majority of them matured in wealthy sherry casks that gave an virtually Asian-influenced, smoked meat taste profile to them.

This Port Ellen 44 12 months Previous Gemini Unique Cask Launch has slightly little bit of that occurring, however there may be extra of a deal with tropical fruit, sea salt, light, flavourful spices of turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika, and a few Chinese language five-spice. These latter notes are of a normal profile for Port Ellen, however if you happen to’re searching for one thing that isn’t essentially as heavy on the sherry – that is the set for you!

Additionally, these earlier Port Ellen releases have been nonetheless very outdated whiskies, the previous couple of being thirty years or older whiskies. However this further time in wooden and the collection of these casks has actually highlighted that typically, older can actually be higher. But in addition extraordinarily particular.

Whiskies Comparable To The Port Ellen Gemini Releases?

It is a more durable query to reply than I assumed it could be – however we do have some solutions. The principle one is Brora.

On common, Brora was a less expensive official launch buy when in comparison with the Port Ellen releases of the previous. However the taste profile of those whiskies does get you near a few of these legendary bottles of Brora, particularly the 2017 Brora 34 12 months Previous which remains to be top-tier for lots of people.

But in addition that Brora Uncommon Malts bottling that has been a whisky unicorn for many people for a very long time. Some older bottlings of cask-strength Bowmore can even get you into this taste profile – cask-strength Bowmore generally is fairly scrumptious. However if you happen to can supply some bourbon cask matured Bowmore at a better power, then you definately’ll be in the suitable territory.