Saving the Best for Last - Port Ellen 27 and Caol Ila 30

So here are the other two whiskies G-Man brought to welcome the New Year. First is a thirty-one year old Carn Mor bottling of Caol Ila. It's cask strength -- 55.3%. The color is surprisingly pale for a malt that had spent that much time in a cask. It was a bright golden yellow - straw in the summer sunlight. The nose was sweet, with just a hint of smoke. On the tongue, this whisky was buttery and smooth, and the taste surprised us also -- mildly peaty, not overwhelming us with smoke. There were some bright citrus notes, mixed in the the peat. And despite the high alcohol content, the malt was not at all fiery, but was remarkably mellow.  But with some water, the flavor blew up, and the peat and pepper came to the forefront, dominating the taste of this Islay whisky. So slightly diluted, this Caol Ila became not only smoother, but far more flavorful.  The finish was perhaps the only characteristic that didn't live up to expecdtations. Not quite as long as one might hope for in a whisky of this age.

Finally, at the conclusion of another great weekend in Great Barrington, we have Port Ellen, one of the legendary Islay whiskies which, unfortunately, is no longer available, the distillery having been closed since 1983.  Chuck brought a Connoisseurs Choice bottling, twenty-seven years old, 43%. We've tasted Port Ellen at Keens, several years ago, but this whisky is fast on the way to extinction. It's been an endangered species for some time, and it's no easy task to find a dram, let alone a full bottle.

The Port Ellen had an even lighter yellow color than the Coal Ila, again a big surprise for a malt this old, and this strong. Its nose was bigger than the Caol Ila -- peaty, smoky, shoe leather, woody, but at the same time, a touch floral. Like a walk in the woods. The taste was really complex, hard to describe, with layers of smoke, sweetness, pepper, and just a little hint of citrus. The palate was velvety smooth, with peat and pepper opening up slowly at first, and then blowing up. The key word here is luxurious. This malt was luxurious in every sense -- the nose, the mouthfeel, the taste, and especially the finish. The finish went on and on, exactly what you'd hope for in a 27 year-old whisky.

Many many thanks, on behalf of all whisky lovers, to G-Man's friends, the Carey's, who have brought these exceptional malts from across the sea, allowing all of us to welcome in the New Year -- 2013  - in fine fashion. Happy New Year to all my many readers.