23 October 2018
Port Askaig 12yo
Let’s wave the summer of 2018 goodbye for good with this pretty independent expression bearing the name Port Askaig. Of course we all know this is Caol Ila, but have you heard they just recently bottled a Bunna for Bresser & Timmer?
However, there’s no doubt this 12yo is a Caol Ila, let’s taste:
Tasting notes
Nose
Fresh and maritime, with soft citrus notes and slightly tropical. But not less tropical than a standard Caol Ila.
Palate
Beautifully mineral, with a taste that resembled fresh clams and driftwood (not that I ever tasted the latter, but I imagine it tastes like this). The salty and tropical notes pop up a few seconds later, all accompanied by chalky ashes.
Finish
Drying up with fresh wood, peated barley and lots of citrus notes. A peppery touch of smoke, but in no way sulfurous (which is something that I often find in Lagavulin)
It’s a nice and fresh dram, it has more edge than a standard Caol Ila 12yo, with the higher ABV as a welcome bonus. It tastes a bit young, which helps the maritime notes, but also makes it a little harsh. And so it makes a perfect summer dram, but for the winter I prefer it a bit sweeter.
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