Port Ellen 1983 / 14 Year Old / Special Reserve / Hart Brothers Islay Whisky

Luna Chavez — Worth every penny if you can find it

9/10

I know £900 sounds steep but this is a closed distillery we're talking about. The nose alone is worth sitting with for twenty minutes — smoked honey, sea salt, a hint of old leather. Hart Brothers bottled some real gems in the 90s and this is one of them. One of my all-time favourite drams.

Gianluca Ferro — Worth every penny if you can find it

9/10

I know £900 sounds steep but this is a closed distillery we're talking about. The nose alone is worth sitting with for twenty minutes — smoked honey, sea salt, a hint of old leather. Hart Brothers bottled some real gems in the 90s and this is one of them. One of my all-time favourite drams.

Tyler Bennet — Good but not life-changing

7/10

Solid Islay single malt with nice smoky character and some citrus peel on the finish. I enjoyed it neat but honestly expected more complexity for a 14 year old Port Ellen at this price point. The peat is more restrained than I'd like — I prefer my Islays with a bit more punch.

Natasha Volkov — A proper time capsule

8/10

Got to try this at a friend's tasting night and it absolutely delivered. Classic old-style Port Ellen — heavy on the maritime peat, iodine, and a surprising amount of dried fruit sweetness underneath. At 43% it's gentle enough to sip neat without any burn, which I appreciate for something this old.

Clara Johansson — A proper time capsule

8/10

Got to try this at a friend's tasting night and it absolutely delivered. Classic old-style Port Ellen — heavy on the maritime peat, iodine, and a surprising amount of dried fruit sweetness underneath. At 43% it's gentle enough to sip neat without any burn, which I appreciate for something this old.

Priya Sharma — A proper time capsule

8/10

Got to try this at a friend's tasting night and it absolutely delivered. Classic old-style Port Ellen — heavy on the maritime peat, iodine, and a surprising amount of dried fruit sweetness underneath. At 43% it's gentle enough to sip neat without any burn, which I appreciate for something this old.