PORT ASKAIG 15YO SHERRY CASK 45.8% 70CL

Port Askaig 15 Year Sherry Cask is a marriage of two vintages from 1997 and 2001 which were married together at 50% ABV then reduced after three months to bottling strength. Aged in Oloroso sherry butts to give a rich, deep whisky. Nose Sweet and smoky, with heather honey notes mingling with autumn-leaf bonfires and coal stoves. The smoke is dry and mineral-heavy, but it sits on top of a layer of rich and muddy peat. Hiding behind the smoke are floral and fragrant hints – raspberry leaves and honeysuckle – and sponge cake vanilla. Palate Syrupy sweet to start, with a silky mouthfeel to match, but the whisky quickly becomes drier, with the stony smoke from the nose rolling in. Citrus notes appear, with zesty lemons and sherbert joined by a hint of violet. Finish Long, lingering and sooty – charred lemons on a wood-fired stove.