Although Port Askaig is named for a real village in Islay, a popular Scotch whisky making region, there’s no actual distillery there. Rather, what we have here, Port Askaig 110 Proof Islay Single Malt, is part of a range of independent bottler releases that are sold under the Port Askaig label and sourced from a variety of unnamed Islay distilleries.
It is mentioned by the bottler that this line up is in the middle of the smoky spectrum compared to other whiskies from this area. Each bottling, as legally required by the “single malt” nomenclature, comes from a single distillery, in batches varying in size from two to 40 barrels. It’s cask strength, unfiltered, and aged in used bourbon barrels.
Other than that, there’s very little information available about these whiskies (one reviewer guesses this release is Caol Ila). This particular expression is the first to be sold in the United States, being non-age statement in nature and, as the name implies, bottled at 110 proof.
Tasting Notes: Port Askaig 110 Proof Islay Single Malt
Vital stats: single malt, 55% ABV, aged in used bourbon barrels, $75, non-age statement, non-chill filtered, natural color
Color: pale straw, white wine
Nose: Smoke and hay at first, then green apple, salt, and white pepper. A savory charred meat note starts to predominate after a few moments in the glass.
Palate: Quite spicy and peppery, with ample smoke and more savory umami notes, but now it’s more of a smoked deli meat, like pastrami, than a blackened steak. Plenty of black pepper. There’s a little orchard fruit, but it’s quite faint. Despite the high proof, water doesn’t add much, almost flattening it out, if anything.
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