Like many undisclosed Islays that came before it, there is a bit of mystery surrounding the source of the Port Askaig 100 Proof. And I truly mean a bit because with a little bit of reasonable elimination we end up with two distilleries as our possibilities and they taste quite a bit different.
Laphroaig and Ardbeg are both in such high demand, and have been for so long, that this being the source, especially at this price, is highly unlikely – plus it doesn’t really taste like either. Bowmore and Lagavulin don’t supply indie lines and, again, it doesn’t taste like either of them. Kilchoman we can cut just on scale alone.
Bruichladdich barely keeps their own peated whisky in stock and their use of Highland peat gives it a dry signature profile not found in these bottles. That leaves us with two viable candidates who are known to supply NDPS: Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain. Though when you consider the scale needed, coupled with the taste, that really leaves us with one. Caol Ila.
Though if you want to just go with the obvious, that Caol Ila is located in Port Askaig, that would work too. However, most of the sherried releases are rumored to be Bunnahabhain and the ones I’ve tasted don’t taste like serried Caol Ila. Anyway, let’s get to drinkin’!
Port Askaig 100 Proof – Details and Tasting Notes
Whiskey Details
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Style: Single Malt (Scotch)
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Undisclosed (likely Caol Ila)
Mash Bill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: NAS (3+ Years)
ABV: 57.1%
Port Askaig 100 Proof Price: $70
Related Whiskey
Islay Mist 8 Years
Valinch and Mallet South Shore Islay Malt 8 Years
Boutique-y Whisky Islay Single Malt 25 Years
2007 Exclusive Malts Isle of Islay 10 Years
Classic of Islay 12 Years
Port Askaig 100 Proof Tasting Notes
EYE
Pale straw
NOSE
Orchard fruit (peaches, pears, dried apples), smoke, malty sweetness, vanilla, honey, minerality and a touch of plastic.
Young, crisp and bracing. It’s a slightly spirity aroma that makes me think “Caol Ila”.
PALATE
Minerality, smoke, dried fruit, lemon peels, vanilla cake and some malty sweetness with a bit of spice.
Like the aroma, there is a spirity nature to it, but it works quite well here. It’s a punchy sharp little whisky.
FINISH
Long -> Smoke, honey, spice and minerality.
BALANCE, BODY and FEEL
Decent balance, med-full body, oily feel.
Port Askaig 100 Proof – Overall Thoughts and Score
Kind of strange to have a whisky this high in proof feel so light. It drinks much softer than its heavy 114.2 proof. That could be due to the nice bit of sweetness underpinning the smoke and minerality that dominates it. The balance makes it easy to sip.
Or maybe I’m just so used to high-proof whisky this just seems normal to me. It’s hard to say and after 17+ years of whisky drinking I have to say that either, or both, are possible. Regardless, this Port Askaig 100 Proof is a nice whisky and one to consider if you like the crisp minerally nature of young Islay whiskies.
SCORE: 3.5/5 (tasty, worth checking out ~ B | 83-86)
Port Askaig 100 Proof Review $70
Overall
3.5- Nose (3.5)
- Palate (3.5)
- Finish (3.5)
- BBF (3.5)
User Review
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