Jose-Massu-Espinel
Port Askaig 15 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
July 24, 2020 (edited July 31, 2020)
I've long waited to taste a Port Askaig whisky. A mistery distillery is responsible for this beautiful, complex and delicious dram, but we all know it is Caol Ila, lol.
This whisky has been matured in ex bourbon and Sherry Casks, and bottled at 45.8%abv to give it a great, powerful flavor.
On the nose is like a three layer aroma: one is full of peat, the other one is fruity and the last one is chocolate. Perfumed bonfire, Heather earthy peat. There is a sherried sweet note. Milk Chocolate but also cigarretes.
Nice citrus notes, lemon and Prunes.
Raisins bathed in chocolate. The prunes aroma is so clean, amazing stuff. It is the acid prune, the one you eat with salt.
After having a first sip, aroma changes and the sherriness explodes. Blackberries, also peat; this is a wonderful dram. Red fruits. Now it is a sweet prune; figs and Vanilla.
On the palate, there is a nice sherriness to it, reminds me of a blackberry juice. After 4 seconds Spiceness hits, then a puff of smoke, then chocolate. Wow this is a nice whisky, i wrote all this while holding it in my palate, it is THAT good.
2nd sip gave me: vanilla, then spiciness.
Its bitter, its sweet, its salty, its acid.
Last sip (third) is all sherry.
Aftertaste is an Ashtray. Sawdust. Burnt tobacco grass. Long ashy finish. The Ashy note is so clean, its just amazing how perfectly defined the flavor is. The peaty On this is sublime. If there is something called peat spice,this has it. Salty. Peppery. Cigarretes. Great stuff.
Overall, this whisky is simply too good. I am not the fondest fan of Caol Ila, bit its "alter ego" found in me a new follower. My score for it is 92 over 100 and it should be more. Sláinte!
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Great review. Ive seen this and havent really considered but if its CI Ill yake a closer look
@PBMichiganWolverine $250, for a 18yo? is that an overpriced Macallan tactic i see there? lol
Their US version 18 yr is supposedly amazing...but I’m just not willing to shell out $250 for an 18 yr Caol Ila