Showing posts with label Port Askaig 15. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Port Askaig 15. Show all posts

Port Askaig 15 Years Review


“You’re the Caol Ila in Disguise”

Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Brand: Port Askaig
Bottled By: Specialty Drinks Ltd.
Type: Single Malt Whisky
Age: 15 Years
ABV: 45.8 %

Colour: Golden Straw

Nose: Medicinal Peat, Iodine, Cold Smoke, Soot, Tar, Brine, Wet Earth, light Rubber and assorted (Shell) Fish and Meat on the BBQ. There can be no mistake we're nosing an Islay Malt! I also find Sweet Barley, Salted Butter, Honey, Oak, Herbs, Straw, light Leather, Lemon-Pepper, Citrus Fruit, Floral Soap, Sugared Tea and Wet Rocks. None of the Aromas is aggressive. Based on the Nose I would go for either Lagavulin or Caol Ila. The ABV is absolutely correct and the Alcohol is nicely integrated. Pleasant Nose.

Palate: The Delivery is a bit Thin despite the sufficient ABV. I find Sweet Peat, Cold Smoke, Soot, Ashes, Tar, Rubber, Charred Oak, Sweet Barley, Vanilla, Straw, Toffee, Dark Chocolate, Salted Fish and Meat on the BBQ, Lemon, Salt, Pepper, Nutmeg, Dried Herbs, Floral Soap, Sugared Tea and Mineral tones.


Finish: A good Length but a bit on the Thin side. I find Sweet Peat, Cold Smoke, Cigar Ashes, Tar, Sea Water, Salted Fish and Meat on the BBQ, Iodine, Band-Aid, Rubber, Charred Oak, Toffee, Lemon, Pepper, Nutmeg and light Licorice.

I added a couple of drops of water. The Islay Peat and Smoke are enhanced. I find more Fruity tones as well. Citrus and some Pineapple and Grapes perhaps. 
Palate and Finish become too Thin but that's my personal opinion. This Port Askaig certainly accepts a little Water. But as always, don't overdo it! On the Palate and in the Finish, certainly after having added the Water, this Spirit has more Caol Ila characteristics. So Caol Ila it probably is, at least in my opinion.

Rating: 85 

Nose: 21.5 - Taste: 21 - Finish: 21 - Overall: 21.5


General Remarks: Around 2011, Special Drinks Ltd introduced the Port Askaig range of Islay Single Malt Whiskies. The well-known UK Whisky connoisseur Sukhinder Singh selected the Spirit for this range. The name of the Distillery is not revealed. The series include or included a NAS at Cask Strength, a 12 Years, a 15 Years, a 17 Years, a 19 Years, a 25 Years and a 30 Years. The 15 Years I'm tasting today matured in a vatting of Ex-Sherry and Ex-Bourbon Casks and was bottled in 2014. The presentation and the bottle are very classy. Nicely done! It's not cheap though at around 100 US Dollars.

Drinking Experience Neat: Good

Conclusion: The Port Askaig 15 Years is a well-balanced and mildly flavoured Islay Malt. As such, it's a nice place to start when you are considering exploring peated Whiskies. It has all the Peat, Smoke, Tar, Soot, Brine and BBQ Aromas that peated Islay malts are known for but they are never too aggressive and in balance with the Barley, Fruit and Spices. The ABV is correct and 15 Years is a very good age to bottle a whisky. You can enjoy this Port Askaig neat or with a little Water. The only thing that prevents me from scoring this Port Askaig even higher is the fact that I find it a bit too Thin on the Palate and in the Finish for a 15 Years Single Malt with an ABV of almost 46%. And a few extra Ex-Sherry Casks wouldn't have hurt the Spirit as well. But despite this, I quite enjoyed the Port Askaig 15 years. Although I do think it's too expensive for a Mystery Malt!

Jan van den Ende                                                                       June 2, 2015

Is this the Place of Birth of the Port Askaig?