Port Askaig 45 Year Old

This Port Askaig 45 Year Old was launched back in 2015. It got some extra attention recently because it will now also be imported in the US (just 51 bottles) but it is effectively the same whisky as confirmed by the people at Elixir Distillers.

The distillery is undisclosed, but the whisky was distilled on Islay in 1968 so I can only think of one distillery. It was composed from five sherry butts, married together for one year.

 

 

Port Askaig 45 Year OldPort Askaig 45 yo 1968
(40,8%, Elixir Distillers 2015)

Nose: delicate fruity notes (apricots, pears, yellow plums) with bergamot and eucalyptus. Heather honey. Soft resinous notes and rubbed lemons. Subtle cashew nuts. Elegant and fresh.

Mouth: now more on woody notes. Menthol, nutmeg, plenty of citrus green tea. Crushed mint leaves. Resinous notes again, with a faint salty edge. Seville oranges. Wildflowers. Herbal potions towards the end.

Finish: quite long, still on bittersweet oranges with cardamom, leafy notes and fragrant wood.

Very classy whisky, really elegant but outmatched by earlier releases in terms of fruitiness and aromatic intensity. Available from The Whisky Exchange, even with engraving.

Score: 90/100