The moment Islay fans have been waiting for is finally upon us; Port Ellen will reopen in March 2024. To mark the momentous reopening they have created a pair of whiskies named Gemini, which both honors the iconic distillery’s past and sets the tone for what we can expect from future releases.
Port Ellen Gemini is actually two bottles of whisky that have been matured for 44 years and were distilled in 1978. The first, Port Ellen Gemini Original, was matured purely in European Oak Butts. The Second, Port Ellen Gemini Remnant, spent the final years of its 44 year maturation in a completely original finishing cask, known as the remnant cask.
This parallel maturation has created non-identical twin whiskies that showcase elements all whisky enthusiasts can appreciate: At 44 years old these are by far the oldest Port Ellen whiskies, plus the opportunity to see how cask finishing can impact a whisky’s profile is bound to appeal to fans. However the use of an original Port Ellen remnant cask—against all odds saved for 40 years—gives a taste of the future we might expect to see in releases from the reborn distillery.
The Remnant Cask: Past and Future
Diageo explains that a remnant cask is “a feature of every distillery, […] used to measure excess spirit from a filling run.” If a cask could talk this remnant cask could tell us its memories of all the spirits that once passed through the Port Ellen stills. The use of an original remnant cask for this showcase release is an exemplary demonstration of how a distillery can honor its past whilst also looking to the future.
This has clearly been a project of passion for the distillery as they work behind the scenes to mark the reopening in a suitable fashion. “The finish is nothing short of historical,” explains Master Blender Craid Wilson. “An extraordinary remnant cask that cradled three decades of Port Ellen spirit, now restored and revived, a worthy touch to this rare Scotch. It is a fitting tribute to the past and future as Port Ellen returns once again.”
Whisky expert Charles Maclean explained how the use of the remnant cask had “markedly increased the flavor profile of this uniquely finished expression.”
Looking To The Future
As with all high end releases the presentation is as important as the whisky, and no thought has been spared here. The design is clean and futuristic, with the white exterior of the presentation box echoing the iconic paint scheme of Islay’s coastal distilleries. That is then contrasted by an equally faceted but this time mirrored interior. The result is a presentation that seems to promise the whiskies it contains will understand and reflect both the future and the past. This is echoed in the label designs too. The simple yet striking designs contain undeniable elements of Port Ellen’s most famous bottlings; the annual releases, the success of which arguably spurred the distillery’s final reopening.
What To Expect From the “Awakened Giant”
The crystal decanters for Port Ellen Gemini Original and Remenant are printed with the words, “A Giant Awakens” and, “A New Day Dawns” respectively, but what exactly can we expect from the new Port Ellen distillery?
Astute whisky fans won’t miss that a 1978 distillation date and 44 year old whisky means that these icons were bottled in 2022—2023 at a push. It’s not much of a surprise as the distillery’s original opening date was pushed back numerous times, first and not least by COVID lockdowns. After years of speculation official sources have finally announced the distillery will be reopening in March 2024.
The official literature mentions a “mission to investigate the mysterious flavors of smoke” and “a distillery re-envisioned for the future, pushing the boundaries of experimentation.”
I can’t wait to see what they produce, but the reality is that even as the first spirit is set to flow through the distillery in March, the nature of whisky maturation means me and other Port Ellen fans are going to have to wait at least three years to find out what Diageo are planning for the icon. It may well be longer. I expect Port Ellen to sit at the premium end of Diageo’s portfolio where it will benefit most from the demand already established for its vintage release. The premium market normally necessitates older age statements, and a longer wait. Although of course, premium NAS whiskies are becoming increasingly common, so who knows.
For now I hope and expect that they continue to release icons from their incredible back catalog of casks.
Just 274 sets of Port Ellen Gemini will be available in selected markets at a recommended retail price of £45,000 inclusive of UK VAT and Duty.