Port Askaig 25 yo 2025

 

 

 

45,8°

Distillery Officially Unknown - Islay

American Oak and Sherry Casks

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Heavily Peated 

 

 

 

It's the fourth 25 year-old limited edition of Port Askaig, since the brand was created in 2009. This one is a bit unusual, as there is a strong rumour that it is a Laphroaig, whereas Port Askaig is usually Caol Ila. Is this a rumour started to draw attention to the bottling, or is it simply the truth? In any case, it deserves a little investigation.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very balanced, with ash-like and mineral peat, smoke fulll of charcoal, tempered by a gentle sea breeze, shellfish, sea spray, foam. This then opens up to reveal some fruit, as well as almond paste, vanilla, banana, white plum. On the palate, it is initially oily with roasted cereals and bacon, followed by earthy peat with spices, cloves and white pepper. Roasted chestnuts and a hint of soot. The finish is quite long and powerful, full of vegetable notes, thyme and rosemary. Sea salt, salicornia, basalt.

 

In Short, 

I didn't recognise the Laphroaig profile, but that doesn't mean it isn't one. For me, it lacks the medicinal touch, and the peat is a little different. In any case, it's not a whisky that lives up to the reputation of this distillery, which is one of my favourites. It's very good, but the other Laphroaig 25-year-olds I've drunk were magnificent, and that's not the case here. That said, the price is fine, it's more like the price of a Caol Ila or a Bunnahabhain of that age, so if it really is a Laphroaig, it's worth it. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Kati Ràn - Suurin

Caol Ila 2006 The Single Malts of Scotland 18 yo c. 307354

 

 

 

52,5°

Distillery : Caol Ila - Islay

Refill Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Elixir Distillers

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 35 ppm

 

 

 

This Caol Ila spent 18 years, eight months and one day in a Refill Hogshead, then it was bottled and 271 bottles invaded the stores. It is not sure to be Cask Strength because this series is bottled at 'optimum strength', but not necessarily Cask Strength. On whiskybase, there is another cask, the 3073546, bottled the same day, but I think this is a mistake, this other cask doesn't exist. However, I wrote the name of the cask to avoid any confusion. 

 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Very full-bodied peat, quite powerful, dry and herbaceous, thick smoke, crystalline iodine, sea kelp, sea foam, sea air. Behind this, light vanilla, almond paste, whipped cream and a hint of lemon zest. Light woodiness, shortbread biscuits, roasted hazelnuts. On the palate, it is creamy, vanilla and lychees, milk chocolate, white grapes, a few mirabelle plums. Rough spices, black pepper, cloves. Long finish, where peat and smoke come to the fore again, sea salt, seaweed, scallops, oak bark, lemon pulp.

 

In Short, 

I found it a little unbalanced, with the peat and smoke seeming very strong, especially on the nose, but perhaps that was because the bottle had just been opened. Overall, it lacks originality. It's a classic Caol Ila, with a profile we've seen many times before, where age doesn't play much of a role in refining the more tempestuous flavours. It's still very good, and I'll always be a fan of this distillery, but at this age you expect something more, which I didn't find here. That said, the price is still decent.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Merciful Nuns - The Pyramid