Scotch

Review: Port Ellen 44 Year Old Gemini Remnant Cask

$58,000

OVERALL
RATING

9

Review: Port Ellen 44 Year Old Gemini Remnant Cask

While the high price is undeniable, the history behind the Port Ellen Gemini Remnant Cask makes it truly special.
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Tasting Notes:

About:
What exactly is a remnant cask, I hear you say. Well, this is a rather unusual story, and something that is falls slap bang into a classic whisky fairytale. A remnant cask is a cask used for measuring extra spirit from a filling run. This particular European oak butt was then rescued by a selection of Islay distillers as the facility was closing in 1983. It has been guarded ever since, and has been dipped into to over the last four decades for some of Port Ellen\’s most famous bottlings. Quite the story.
Appearance:
Cognac
Nose:
The world’s booziest cigar box. An incredible opening note of fresh mint, that was the last thing I expected to get. After that there are lashings of cigar box wood, tobacco leaf, freshly cut wood and sawn oak. The mint comes back around and melds with milk chocolate to make the freshness much more indulgent. On the subject of indulgence – out of the blue comes rose water which with the chocolate note reminds me of those tiny Turkish Delight bars I was bought as a kid. Salted peanuts and macadamia nuts are in the mix now. The smoky element of this cask is much more restraint than the Original Cask Release. It sits in this culinary/smoked dessert area that I’ve only ever smelt in restaurants. It’s like smelling dry aged steak cooking on a grill with sea salt and rosemary, with a mint julep by your side. That’s a lot to deal with, I know. But it’s the only way I can think to summarise it. Overall a sweeter nose compared to the Original Cask Release. Some of the savoury tones being dominated by minty freshness and tobacco.
Palate:
Dark chocolate and marinated cherries! Those savoury notes start to push through now – rosemary, sea salt, smoked oak, Peychaud’s Bitters, a little liquorice, more peanuty on the palate compared to the nose. The perfect way to summarise this on the taste would be, imagine a smoked old fashioned cocktail, made with maple syrup. The lingering sweetness was such an unusual thing to expect with this – I was anticipating a smoke led monster, but it’s so much more delicate and brown sugar driven in comparison. The tobacco box notes do come back on the final few chews of this.
Finish:
Lapsang Souchong tea, a huge depth charge of iodine, and classic Kildalton, south coast Islay style. More sweetness comes back in with stewed apples, sweet pastry, and raisin biscuits – think fresh slice of warn apple pie. Salt, seaweed, poached pears, even some mulled wine/Christmas notes that really plough through the longer you leave it on your palate to chew and then swallow. Those old fashioned notes of smoke, maple, ginger and brown sugar are still there, too.
Comments:
A very unexpected style of Port Ellen. I can see why they would’ve dipped into this cask to add some deeper, sweet elements to other releases. It is delicious, and would I would harm other people to have a bottle of it. But The Original Cask has a bigger attraction to me. Luckily, they come as a set, so you can have both! If you’re an Islay addict, with pockets deep enough to warrant purchasing this then you are never going to be disappointed with a glass of either.

What Makes The Remnant Cask So Special?

Anyone of you who has spent enough time in whisky will have heard about every single cask variant you can think of. A cask, a butt, a port pipe, a barrique, a quarter cask, etc. But when have any of us ever come across a remnant cask? Now as a vessel used for overflow from filling runs, it could have contained numerous different styles of distillate that were required for different things, especially given Port Ellen’s closing and reopening in the thirties and then the priority of single malts used for blending throughout the 60s, 70s, and the 80s. This cask could have seen an unprecedented amount of stocks sat in it, that are possibly now sat in these beautiful decanters.

What Makes This A Must-Have For Collectors?

Much like with The Original Cask, the requirements and reputation needed to purchase one of the Port Ellen Gemini whiskies are quite significant. To secure a bottle, you’ll likely need to be a major customer with a retailer or hope to win a ballot that gives you the opportunity to buy it. Alternatively, being on Diageo‘s Private Client list could help, though I doubt these sets will remain available for long.

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There are certainly enough people with the means to purchase most of these bottles purely as investments. However, if you’re fortunate enough to afford them, I would recommend drinking them, as the flavors, depths, and finishes offered by these whiskies are unlike anything we’ve experienced in similar styles.

Final Thoughts on The Remnant Cask and The Port Ellen Gemini Release

Diageo put on quite a show with the release of these whiskies and the launch of tours at the new Port Ellen facility. You might initially think this is just another old, overpriced whisky with little substance. While the high price is undeniable, the history behind these whiskies makes them truly special. It’s rare to see something from Islay that isn’t just a marketing showcase with a fancy label. Port Ellen holds a significant place in Islay’s whisky heritage. Although not everyone could afford it during recent whisky booms, the distillery’s exclusivity has played a crucial role in shaping modern-day Islay whisky. It continues to produce extraordinary, standout whiskies that capture attention.

Phil Dwyer

Phil Dwyer's passion for whisky is undeniable. With a decade of experience in whisky retail and nearly as long running Whisky Wednesday on YouTube, Phil is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm with fellow whisky lovers. His goal is to make whisky accessible and enjoyable, dispelling the jargon and complexity that can sometimes surround the spirit. In addition to his online presence, Phil manages The Whisky Shop Manchester, where he curates an impressive selection of some of the finest drams available.

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