Port Askaig 28 Year Old

Another terrific single malt from the Port Askaig, Islay range - aged for an uncommonly long 28 years in refill American hogshead casks. As always with a Port Askaig bottling, there is no information about which distillery on Islay this whisky originates, but we have it on good authority it comes from a south coast Islay distillery (the one nearest to the town of Port Ellen). That should narrow it down for all you whisky sleuths out there ... And no ... you do not see official bottlings of this age at this price. Especially ones that are this delicious. 

Nose: A complex mix of medicine cabinets, fresh mint, pine resin, smoked tea leaves and hospital laundry drying on the breeze. Almond flakes, kirschwasser, lychee, guava and pineapple rings in syrup follow.

Palate: Oily, generous and meaty with pancetta-wrapped chicken legs, cured speck with bay leaves and salted Padrón peppers. Rich coconut butter, orange peel and Portuguese custard tarts dusted with cinnamon aren’t far behind.

Finish: There’s plenty of lingering woodsmoke here, as well as rosemary, menthol and liquorice. It leaves you immediately ready for another sip.