Port Askaig – Cask Strength Small Batch #01-2023 70 cl. 59,4%

Released as part of the brand’s 2023 relaunch, this Port Askaig Cask Strength single malt whiskey is matured in both ex-bourbon casks and American oak casks and features vanilla and citrus alongside a distinctive Islay peat smoke.

Each batch consists of a maximum of 60 dishes. Each cask is chosen for the notes it will bring to the whisky. Each batch will have a unique code and will show a breakdown of the casks, allowing the recipient to compare and explore the different notes that the wood and blend bring to this Islay Scotch whiskey each year. #01-2023 uses a selection of casks to create layers of sweetness, lemon zest mixed with the classic Islay smoke.

Each batch will offer a slightly different taste of Islay. The bottles are bottled at a higher strength of 59.4% alcohol with a capacity of 0.7 l and are delivered in gift boxes.

Colour: light brown with amber highlights
Nose: flowers, fresh grass, citrus, smoke
Taste: dark chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla
Finish: salty, smoldering ash

Port Askaig is a series of whiskeys from Elixir Distillers. The brand is named after the town of the same name, which is located on the east coast of Islay and for hundreds of years has been known as the “gateway to Islay”. Many smugglers and whiskey fans have sailed from here and there over the years, and the name has almost become synonymous with smoke and seaweed and tar. Close to the town are also the Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain distilleries, which are rumored to play the main roles in several of the bottlings.

From Port Askaig, the coastline of the nearby Isle of Jura can be seen on a clear day, and it is this coastline that is the motif on the label of the Port Askaig bottlings.

The blender and bottling company Elixir Distillers was founded by the two brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, who are also behind the shop The Whiskey Exchange. They use their extensive experience from virtually every nook and cranny of the spirit world to fuse traditional craftsmanship with an insatiable hunger to experiment and innovate. The main focus is definitely on Scotch whisky, but also Japanese, Irish and American whiskey as well as tequila and rum have found their way into Elixir Distillers’ beautifully designed bottles. Among the most notable brands we find Elements of Islay, Port Askaig, Single Malts of Scotland and Black Tot.

Originally the company was called Specialty Drinks, and the name only changed to Elixir Distillers in 2017 – but if the two brothers blend and bottle whiskey, where does the “Distiller” part come in? Well, in 2018 they announced plans to build a new distillery on Islay’s south coast. The future looks bright for fans of smoke and peat!