A very rare example of Islay whiskey of this age. Distilled in 1968, this is a combination of five sherry casks, which were married last year. An exceptionally complex whisky, that any Islay fan will enjoy.
NOSE
Fruity, combining both tropical and fruit: apples, pears, papaya and mango.
TASTE
Bittersweet oranges, mango and warming spice with contrasting notes of mint and green tea.
EXIT
The fruit fades to leafy herbs, which become warming and minty.
Producer’s tasting notes:
NOSE
Even before you taste this, your senses are filled with full, thick, ripe fruit and heavy, sweet, sticky nectar. A hint of menthol gives a clue to the long aging of this whisky.
TASTE
Rich navel oranges and fleshy mango sit on a thick and warming palate, with flavors reminiscent of green tea, mint leaves and tropical fruit. The taste is incredibly well-balanced with elegance and balance.
EXIT
Clean and long with carefully balanced minerality.
Port Askaig is a series of whiskeys from Elixir Distillers. The brand is named after the town of the same name, which is located on the east coast of Islay and for hundreds of years has been known as the “gateway to Islay”. From here to there, many smugglers and whiskey fans have sailed through the years, and the name has almost become synonymous with smoke and seaweed and tar. Close to the village are also the Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain distilleries, which are rumored to play the main roles in several of the bottlings.
From Port Askaig, the coastline of the nearby Isle of Jura can be seen on a clear day, and it is this coastline that is the motif on the label of the Port Askaig bottlings.
The blender and bottling company Elixir Distillers was founded by the two brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, who are also behind the store The Whiskey Exchange. They use their extensive experience from virtually all corners of the spirits world to fuse traditional craftsmanship with an insatiable hunger for experimentation and innovation. The main focus is definitely on Scotch whisky, but also Japanese, Irish and American whiskey as well as tequila and rum have found their way into Elixir Distillers’ beautifully designed bottles. Among the most notable brands we find Elements of Islay, Port Askaig, Single Malts of Scotland and Black Tot.
The company was originally called Specialty Drinks, and the name first changed to Elixir Distillers in 2017 – but if the two brothers blend and tap whiskey, where does the “Distiller” part come in? Well, in 2018 they announced plans to build a new distillery on the south coast of Islay. The future looks bright for fans of smoke and peat!