The Rarest Port Ellen 1983 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky - 40 Years - Cask No. 667

Port Ellen distillery closed in May 1983. Cask No. 667 was filled on March 16, 1983 — one of the last batches ever produced, mere weeks before the stills went cold for the final time.

Founded in 1825 on Islay's southern coast, Port Ellen became one of the most celebrated peated malt distilleries in Scotland. Closed by Distillers Company Limited in 1983 during a wave of industry consolidation, it has since become a cult whisky among collectors worldwide — one of the rarest, most iconic, and most sought-after names in Scotch. As global demand for smoky, peated malts has surged, the finite supply of Port Ellen has only grown more precious.

This cask was initially stored on Islay before being moved to Duncan Taylor's vaults in Aberdeenshire in 2010 to finish its maturation. Bottled at 52.4% from a European oak ex-Sherry butt after 40 years, it is a veritable time capsule of Port Ellen at its early 1980s peak.

"The casks of Port Ellen were ones that really stood out for me as something special and we've patiently waited for them to mature, bringing that rich, dark colour to the liquid. The cask has created an evocative whisky that embraces the peat from the kilns and the brine of the sea, alongside a succulent rich fruity base. It's one of the finest whiskies we've launched this year and that's saying something."
— Euan Shand, Chairman, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky

This is The Rarest: Duncan Taylor's most exceptional reserve. Each hand-finished decanter is sequentially numbered and accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity. 209 bottles released worldwide. Bottled at 52.4% with no chill filtration and no added color.

Tasting Notes

Color: Rich mahogany

Nose: A classic sherried Islay. Full of treacle toffee and leather mixed with bright fruity notes of blackberries and strawberries drenched in cream. A touch of zesty citrus offsets the fruity sweetness, and some dark, waxy comb honey adds depth. Intense maritime notes of sea spray combined with kombu kelp. Mineral touches of seashore pebbles emerge with time from underneath the sherried fruits.

Palate: Very true to the nose. Dark treacle toffee and more fruits, this time more cooked than fresh. Thick and chewy texture with roasted pecan nuts to the fore. Leathery, maritime notes persist with warming spices of cloves and caraway. The peat comes over as a distant driftwood bonfire on a salt-drenched seashore. A dark, smoky and fruity chutney balanced by a refreshing hint of spearmint. Wonderful balance with all elements in good equilibrium.

Finish: Long and seemingly everlasting. Dark bitter chocolate notes from the sherry cask persist to the last, along with spicy toasted oak. The chewy toffeed fruits continue, slightly drier than on the palate. The driftwood bonfire of the peat is now reduced to smouldering embers. The balance is perfect, with all elements singing in harmony.

Cask and Provenance

• Distilled: March 16, 1983
• Cask Type: European oak ex-Sherry butt (first fill)
• Stored: Islay, then Duncan Taylor vaults, Aberdeenshire (from 2010)
• Bottled: 2023, after 40 years
• Total Bottles: 209 (sequentially numbered, signed certificate of authenticity)

Bottle Details

• Distillery: Port Ellen (Closed May 1983. One of the world's most sought-after ghost distilleries.)
• Region: Islay, Scotland
• Spirit: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Series: Duncan Taylor The Rarest
• Age: 40 Years
• Cask Number: 667
• ABV: 52.4% (Cask Strength)
• Size: 700ml
• Non-Chill Filtered: Yes
• Natural Color: Yes
• Presentation: Hand-finished decanter with signed certificate of authenticity
• Release: Limited — 209 bottles worldwide

For private acquisition inquiries or provenance documentation, contact us directly.