The youngest age-statement release in the Port Askaig range, this eight-year-old single malt Islay whisky is warming and smoky with notes of limestone, liquorice and dark peat.
Well, winter is here in full force as I write this – so let’s get into a region known for warming the cockles of many a drammers heart during the cold depths… Islay. Known for it’s ‘big’ iodine-ey and smokey whiskies, Islay (pronounced eye-lar) is an island sitting off the west coast of Scotland. Exposed to the big Atlantic weather systems during maturation, Islay whiskies are renowned for their ‘maritime’ quality as well as their peat and smoke. For August, we feature the Port Askaig 8yo as our malt of the month. A whisky that embodies all the attributes that make Islay whisky so popular – yet still enjoyable to those who don’t worship at the ‘Peat Monster’ altar.
Port Askaig 8yo is aged in refill bourbon casks and presents itself with a pale white-wine colour. No caramel colourising this whisky!
On the nose it is instantly and fabulously malty with wafts of lemon, some mixed peel and vanilla as well as wet-stone and subtle coastal notes.
The palate gives away it’s true Islay nature with a beautiful oily mouthfeel, salt, seaweed and just a medium amount of peat which sits nicely with the licorice, vanilla and citrus flavours.
Not a particularly long finish, but it does arrive with an astringent dryness with lingering smoke and some peppery spice on the edges of the tongue.
All in all, the Port Askaig 8yo offers a fairly delicate introduction to Islay whisky. All the ‘typical’ flavours of the island – peat/smoke, iodine and salt – but toned down (compared to the the ‘heavyweights’ like Lagavulin 16yo) to allow the malt to shine, and smoothed out by the sweetness of citrus and licorice.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.