Port Askaig 15 Year

I have long anticipated tasting a Port Askaig whisky. A mystery distillery is behind this beautiful, complex, and delicious dram, but we all know it's Caol Ila, lol. This whisky has been aged in ex-bourbon and sherry casks, and bottled at 45.8% abv to provide it with a great, powerful flavor. On the nose, it's a three-layered aroma: one is full of peat, the second is fruity, and the last is chocolate. Perfumed bonfire, Heather earthy peat. There's a sweet sherry note. Milk chocolate but also cigarettes. Nice citrus notes, lemon, and prunes. Raisins coated in chocolate. The prune aroma is so clean, amazing stuff. It's the acidic prune, the kind you eat with salt. After the first sip, the aroma shifts and the sherry notes explode. Blackberries, also peat; this is a wonderful dram. Red fruits. Now it's a sweet prune; figs and vanilla. On the palate, there's a pleasant sherry influence, reminiscent of blackberry juice. After 4 seconds, spiciness arrives, then a puff of smoke, then chocolate. Wow, this is a nice whisky; I wrote all this while holding it on my palate, it's THAT good. Second sip yielded: vanilla, then spiciness. It's bitter, it's sweet, it's salty, it's acidic. Final sip (third) is all sherry. Lingering taste is an ashtray. Sawdust. Burnt tobacco grass. Long, ashy finish. The ashy note is so clean; it's truly amazing how perfectly defined the flavor is. The peat in this is sublime. If there's such a thing as peat spice, this has it. Salty. Peppery. Cigarettes. Great stuff. Overall, this whisky is simply too good. I'm not the biggest fan of Caol Ila, but its 'alter ego' has gained a new follower in me. My rating for it is 92 out of 100, and it should be higher. Cheers!

Gentle, smooth, a whisper of smoke,