Old Bothwell is a company specializing in personalized gifts (whisky, cognac, liqueurs… with your own label). You may think the contents of those kinds of products is of very low importance, but recently they’ve made the news with a couple of single cask Port Ellen releases.

This particular Port Ellen was bottled for the Lindores Whisky Society (Belgium) who celebrated their 5th anniversary on May 31st 2009. Only 11 bottles were made available (one for each member) which makes it by far the most exclusive whisky I’ve ever tasted (where’s the rest of this cask? Luc, Dirk… whose basement is it in?).

Port Ellen 29yo 1979 (52%, Old Bothwell for Lindores 2009, cask #1654, 11 btl.)

Nose: one of those “green” Port Ellens, with notes of cut grass and olive oil. Wet limestones and lemon peel. Reminds me of aspirin as well. Also quite maritime on oysters and seashells. Ink. Relatively low-key peat / tar / smoke. This description may not appeal if you read it, but the nose is complex and very convincing, albeit quite austere and not for beginners I would say. Mouth: starts off a bit sourish with lots of lemon. Much more peat now. Again grassy and a bit herbal. Oysters with a bunch of pepper. Soft saltiness towards the finish. Finish: long, a peaty backbone with lemons and salt.

This cask has a similar profile as the Port Ellen Norse Cask Selection cask QW1311. Not a rounded whisky nor a peat bomb, but clean, natural and rather excellent. Not for sale.

Score: 91/100