Islay distillery Port Askaig has launched a new core range of three single malt Scotch whiskies, accompanied by a new bottle design and brand positioning under the tagline ‘The Gateway to Islay’.
At the heart of the relaunch is a revitalised Port Askaig 8 Year Old (45.8% ABV), boasting a completely new recipe. The herbaceous whisky features notes of seaweed salt, pinewood and warming smoke. The first three years of maturation take place in American Oak barrels, followed by an extended ageing period of more than five years in a curated selection of Bourbon Barrels, Toasted American Oak Barrels, PX Sherry Butts, and Refill Hogsheads.
It is joined by two new limited expressions.
Port Askaig Cask Strength is limited to no more than 60 casks per batch, with a different cask recipe for each production. The inaugural expression – #01-2023 (59.4% ABV) – is aged in First Fill Toasted Bourbon Barrels and Refill American Oak Hogsheads, and characterised by an interplay of vanilla, citrus, and peat smoke.
The final expression in the new core range is Port Askaig 17 Year Old. This bottling is the first of what will become a limited-edition annual release of approximately 9,000 bottles each year. It has been matured for a minimum of 17 years in traditional American Oak casks and bottled at 51.8% with notes of wildflowers, fresh grass, and citrus on the nose, with a rising crescendo of bonfire smoke. On the palate there is dark chocolate, salted caramel and vanilla, wrapped with a briny, smouldering ash finish.
Every expression in the Port Askaig core range is non-chill filtered and free from added colouring.
Port Askaig 8 Year Old (RSP £49.95), Port Askaig Cask Strength (RSP £64.95) and Port Askaig 17 Year Old (RRP £125) are available in the UK via distributor Speciality Brands.
