Port Askaig 8 Year

Nose: Salt, kelp, a faint hint of peat smoke, citrus zest, apple juice, herbal notes (rosemary, bay leaf, subtle juniper) and a trace of vanilla extract. It has a rubbery quality when neat, but a little water completely eliminates this. Dilution also enhances excellent cereal and malt aromas. Palate: Salty and sweet upon entry, becoming even sweeter as it develops with floral honey becoming dominant. Herbal flavors appear as it evolves, with meadow flowers and lively young peat smoke. The texture is pleasantly rich and smooth. Adding water does not detract from the palate but does reveal some spicy and oak-wood characteristics. Finish: Moderate. Salty-sweet fruits fade into brackish water. Dilution makes the aftertaste sweeter. The nose is very well-balanced, with just enough maritime peat smoke to confirm its Islay origin (though that was obvious anyway), and pleasant fruity and herbal aromas complete the experience. This is an excellent nose, whether served neat or with water. The palate largely follows suit, providing a satisfying fulfillment of the nose's promise. The base is sweet and light with fruity top notes of salinity and smoke. This all leads into a satisfyingly salty finish that is both sweet and dry. It's slightly shorter than I would prefer, but that's a minor point. The color is very pale straw, indicating the use of refill casks and no added coloring. This is how I appreciate Scottish whisky's appearance. The alcohol content is reasonable and carries the flavor well, and it is not chill-filtered. For the price, there's very little more one could expect from a young Islay whisky. This company has established its reputation with the Port Askaig range, but they are currently building their own distillery on Islay, near Port Ellen. Looking ahead, I question if the Port Askaig line will be discontinued as their own distillery's spirit becomes available, or if they will continue sourcing from (almost certainly) Caol Ila. Highly recommended, especially as an alternative to other popular Islay whiskies. “Good”: 83/100 (3.5 stars)

I don't usually comment on a whisky's appearance, but I must note how exceptionally light this one is, similar to a moscato, and it clearly has no added color. The nose is vibrant, even sharp and a bit unusual. It presents clean vegetal peat, damp hay, cool smoke, vanilla, mineral oil, pungent white flowers, pale wood, a touch of lemon, and significant alcohol. It's sharper on the palate, initially quite prickly. Once the intense pepper fades, sweet apple, creamy vanilla fudge, peat, and wet slate appear. The body is on the thinner side, but the texture is satisfactory. In the glass, this whisky runs quite quickly, leaving a broken film with gaps. However, just above the liquid's surface, it forms a nice, uniform ring of heavy droplets. The finish is short, semi-dry, and slightly bitter. It contains ample soot, seaweed, a little walnut, more slate, and the faintest lingering sweetness reminiscent of golden syrup. Nose: 8 Taste: 8 Body: 7 Finish: 8

As someone who enjoys peat, I'm always happy to try anything from Islay. Upon opening, the peat is the dominant scent. Sweetness gradually appears, along with notes of sweet cake, a peculiar metallic aroma akin to rain on metal, and a touch of lemon-scented household cleaner. It sounds odd, but bear with me. The taste is surprisingly sweet, followed by a briny ocean flavor. There's a hint of black licorice, light smoke, and a fiery finish. If this were a 12-year expression, I'd gladly purchase it. Strangely, they only offer an 8-year or a 17-year. The gap in age is puzzling.

From the Flaviar advent calendar, day #15. Nose: Peat, mild lemon zest, smoke, a hint of sea air. It almost has a floral quality. As it sits, a creamy, buttery vanilla and freshly cut grass emerges. Palate: Bright, sweet, vibrant. There's a creamy vanilla, vivid lemon zest, and caramel notes. A satisfying, sweet malt character runs through it, remaining relatively light on the palate. Peat and smoke gently envelop the other components. Lemongrass is also present. Finish: Charcoal, smoked ham, sea air, and mellow oak tannins.

Creamy, meaty, campfire, butter, and peppered fruit flavors. 3.25 It's fairly flat; the smokiness is mild and pleasant, but it lacks depth. The heat is noticeable. 1.5 Smoky, oaky bitterness. 1.5 2 Very pale color. Meaty, malty barley, peach, fruits, a little sugar, no caramel detected, a touch of pepper. 3 Delicate, woody bitterness, bland and uninspired, but there's a hint of peat and smoke that's quite mild and nice if you're just looking for something light. I'd rate it 2. Subtle wood notes. 2

The nose presents a strong iodine peat, which softens after a few seconds, allowing lemon and vanilla notes to emerge. The palate has barley sugar with a nice peppery kick towards the end. Based on the palate and nose alone, it strongly suggests Caol Ila as the malt. The green peppercorn finish combined with the sweet entry makes this a fine dram for the price. The peat persists throughout with a decent finish length.