43°
Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay
Refill Bourbon Barrels and Moscatel Seasoned Recharred American Oak Finish
Original Bottling
Limited Edition
Single Malt
Bottled in 2023
Peated around 35 ppm
Since 2022, the Distillers Editions, which were the pride of Diageo, are no longer vintage, and there is nothing to differentiate this one from the 2022 one, apart from a typo in the address of the distillery. It is written Port Asking on the 2022 edition, and Port Askaig, which is correct, on the 2023. Is this still an annual limited edition, as it has been since 2006, or is it now in the Core Range? This is all very disappointing. The fact remains that we have the same ageing, finished in Moscatel casks, a sweet wine from Portugal. It's just that we no longer know how old the product is, let alone how many bottles are on sale.
Let's Taste It :
Slightly acidic nose, bathed in still-warm cigar ash, herbaceous and earthy notes, but with a good dose of fruit pulp, yellow plums, mirabelles, lime, honey, papaya, plantain. A trail of salt, and even maritime hints if you're careful. On the palate, it's well done, silky, with icing sugar and rose loukoums. Pear juice and caramel. Quite elegant peat in the background, an overturned ashtray, but blended in overall. Quite a long, ashy, charcoal finish, with vinous tints, bark, sweet white fruit and vanilla.
In Short,
Admittedly, it's about as good as the vintage Distillers Edition, and probably better than some of them. The balance between the sweetness of the Moscatel and the thick, fatty smoke is incredible. A deep complexity, and a lovely fruity sweetness. Obviously, the price has gone up, but it's still worth buying.
Score : 88
To Be Listened While Sipping :
Silentways - Aeon
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