Port Askaig 10th Anniversary 10 Year Old

The chaps at MOM say: This expression of Port Askaig was bottled in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Port Askaig series, and rather fittingly, it's also 10 years old! The whisky was sourced from an unidentified Islay distillery, based near the village of Port Askaig from which the brand obviously takes its name. The liquid was drawn from 15% solera sherry butts, 25% first-fill bourbon barrels and 60% refill American oak hogsheads.

It is well accepted that this bottling contains Caol Ila (though not all other Port Askaig bottles have been Caol Ila). As an interesting note the very specific ABV of 55.85 is a nod to the geographical latitude of Port Askaig.

Nose: BBQ smoked meats, bacon and maple syrup, sweet malt, coastal, lemon zest, chimney soot, hot bitumen

Palate: Fresh, maritime, seaweed / seafood / seaside, smoking embers, lemon pith, sweet malt, fudge, honeycomb, cedar plank, tar, herbal

Finish: Charred (orchard) fruits, salt, peat smoke, ashy coals, brackish, lemon drops, oaky bitterness

Summary I'm loving this bottle. I've not tried many different Caol Ila and this was a good price for what it delivers at cask strength. I bought it for $125 NZD which for comparison is on par with Ardbeg Uigeadail or Laga 16. I also liked the idea of its cask mix containing 60% refill hoggies as I'm enjoying whisky with less cask influence and more spirit character on show. I like this so much I went to buy another bottle (rare for me) and they are out of stock. Oh well - there's always more whisky to be had.

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