NV Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare - Port Ellen (43.8%)
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The Ghost & Rare Series was created in order to blend rare, single malts from the now closed or “ghost” distilleries, with rare malts from currently operational distilleries; a whisky that time travels between the past and the present. The initial release was a huge success and drew on old barrels from the mythical Brora distillery. Master Blender Jim Beveridge has this time sourced his malts from some of the remaining casks of Port Ellen – a distillery of folk lore for whisky collectors, but closed back in 1983. Beveridge notes, “These whiskies deliver a fascinating glimpse into another world, exploring the unique, inimitable character of whiskies from a small number of iconic, closed distilleries that lend something very special to every drop of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.” In addition to whisky from Port Ellen, this release also includes two other “Ghost” whiskies from Caledonian and Carsebridge. Furthermore, making up the blend, there are five incredibly rare malts from Mortlach, Dailuaine, Cragganmore, Blair Athol and Oban, all of which are at least 20 years old.
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This uninhibited, tempestuous expression of Blue Label highlights the artistry of the blender through the judicious use of closed distillery malts and grains. Coastal notes of sea spray, lemon, dirty peat smoke, cookies and cream, After Eight mints, caramel, and dry-roasted spice aromas. Combining lemon bonbon, waxy orange, cookie dough, fondant icing, and chocolate, with tobacco smoke, hints of peppermint, and grapefruit notes, this flagrantly outclasses the Brora variant.
About the producer
Johnnie Walker is one of the most well-known and highly regarded blended Scotch whisky producers in the world.