艾雷---25y

And also Port Askaig 25 yo (45.8%, Specialty Drinks, 2009) As the excellent bottlers wrote, ‘in a world of change and innovation, there is still a place for the tried and tested approach.’ No doubt about that! In any case, just like the official Talisker 10yo, this new Port Askaig is bottled at Imperial 80 proof, that is to say 45.8% vol. As for the malt inside, well, both the name and the view of the Paps of Jura suggest… Your guess! Colour: pale gold. Nose: a clean and fruity start, with whiffs of liquorice allsorts, dill and celery flight around, then a little cinchona/bitter tonic, the whole getting then more focused on everything from ‘there’, that is to say wood ashes, wet sand (the beach, really), motor oil (and paraffin), a little gentian and other rooty notes. Finally a little fresh marzipan (not cheapo confectionary), infused green tealeaves, and maybe white cherries and overripe apples. More and more coastal on ‘subsequent nosing’. Mouth: rather round and even kind of mellow, reminding me of old versions of Caol Ila in a certain way (pre-1974). Some liquorice, notes of salty oysters, the lemon that goes well along, then quite some nutmeg and a little cinnamon from the oak, plain wood (chewed pencil), maybe a little tapioca (faint dustiness) and finally hints of cherries just like we had on the nose (not too ripe bigaroons). Medium peatiness. Finish: medium to long, with a nice clean ‘smoky/dusty bitterness’, apple peel, and more spices in the aftertaste (pepper and cardamom). Comments: not a peat monster, rather a gentleman of an Islayer, in the league where most flawless 25yo Islayers lie. SGP:365 -90 points.

代ok...A組結束