The Port Askaig range has recently been expanded with a 30 year old expression. Although officially undisclosed, Port Askaig is really close to the Coal Ila distillery so we can assume the name is pointing in that direction.

Port Askaig 30 yo
(45,8%, Specialty Drinks 2009)

Nose: nicely coastal, with wet sand and oyster, but quite fruity as well. A soft, liqueur-like fruitiness, rather exotic for a Coal Ila. Nice interplay of two characters. Lemon, honeysuckle, vanilla. A few medicinal notes in the background. Mouth: lemon at first, then some walnuts and almonds. Apricots. Peat as well, and a few salty notes, which make it sharper than on the nose. Again a nice showcase of older Coal Ila elements. Finish: long, with spicy smoke, hints of tea and salty fish.

I’m fond of older Coal Ila. Port Askaig 25yo was already my favourite of the range and now this place is taken by the 30yo (although the 25yo has quite a price advantage).

Very elegant while at the same time showing impressive power for a 30 year-old. Marketed by The Whisky Exchange – around € 150.

Score: 89/100