Port Askaig Malt Whisky Two New Expressions Tasted
The two new Port Askaig expressions are an eight-year-old and a small batch cask strength.
The demand for Islay Whisky is on the up and up. The founder and previous owner of The Whisky Exchange, Sukhinder Singh is the founder of Elixir Distillers. They select casks from Islay Distilleries, and then under the brand Elixir, they bottle a balanced Islay Malt – Port Askaig.
Way back in 2009 was the launch of the Port Askaig brand. The three expressions for the first outing of Port Askaig were, a Cask Strength, 17 and 25 years old. Through the years they have now produced many expressions and in the blog, I will be concentrating on the two newest expressions.
The new core range “The Gateway to Islay” captures the essence and aromas of Islay.
Port Askaig Whiskies are all non-chill filtered and are of natural colour.
Let’s now have a taste.
Up first is the Eight Year Old.
The initial three years of maturation are in an American oak barrel. Then for over five years in a selection of bourbon barrels, toasted American oak barrels, Pedro Ximenez sherry butts and refill hogshead.
Port Askaig – 8-Year-Old – Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 45.8% Alc/vol, 70cl
Colour…Lemony gold
Nose…Unmistakable sea-shorish, rock pools and seaweed, vanilla and heather, Islay smoke/peat, lightly medicinal.
Taste…An explosion of sweet peat smoke, more vanilla and sea spray, honey and pannacotta, a wee chilli nip, very Islay.
Finish…Long and sweet with smokey peat, seaweed all lingers very well.
A grand dram and priced at £48.50 making it an affordable aged Islay dram.
Up next is the Cask Strength expression.
This will be ever-evolving in each batch. Limited to no more than 60 casks for each batch. Matured in first-fill toasted bourbon barrels and refill American oak hogsheads.
Port Askaig Cask Strength, Batch 1 2023 – Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 59.4% Alc/vol 70cl
Colour…Light amber
Nose…Lightly floral, new mowen lawn, citrus burst, your nose is not far from the sea, burning driftwood on the beach.
Taste…Vanilla sweetness, bonfire and BBQ smoke linger all around, dark chocolate, cut pine, harbour lobster creels, more orange and lemon zestiness, with a teardrop of water it is wonderfully drinkable, oh so Islay.
Finish…Medium to long finish, smouldering ash, vanilla just passing a florist’s shop, still in the background is the citrus burst.
A grand cask strength Islay single malt with a price tag of £63.25 making it quite affordable to those who enjoy the higher Alc/vol.
Coming soon is the third in the new core range which is a 17-year-old. This dram will be matured in American oak casks. I’m looking forward to tasting this one on its release.
