Port Askaig 8 Year Old Scotch Whisky

Port Askaig 8 Year Old Scotch Whisky is a 91.6-proof (45.8% ABV) Islay single malt from Elixir Distillers' Port Askaig range — the youngest age-stated release in the line and the perfect entry point into Islay's smoky style. Matured primarily in refill American oak casks with a measured proportion of Pedro Ximénez sherry casks in each ~50-barrel batch, it is bottled non-chill filtered at natural color in a 750mL bottle. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.

• Proof / ABV: 91.6 proof (45.8% ABV)
• Size: 750mL
• Age: 8 years — refill American oak casks, finished with PX sherry casks
• Style: Islay single malt — elegant, maritime peat rather than medicinal blast
• Producer: Port Askaig, an independent bottling by Elixir Distillers, London

Islay's Gentle Introduction

Port Askaig is not a distillery but a respected independent bottler's brand, created in 2009 by Elixir Distillers — the company founded by Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh, the people behind The Whisky Exchange. Named for the small port village on Islay's north-east coast, the range bottles malt from the island's elegant, maritime-inflected north side in the independent-bottling tradition: the distillery is never officially named, so the whisky is judged on what's in the glass. The 8 Year Old is deliberately built as a gateway dram — refill casks keep the wood influence light so the distillery character shines, while the PX sherry component threads honeyed sweetness through the peat. Gold at San Francisco in 2018. Browse the Port Askaig range and explore more Scotch whisky at Del Mesa.

Tasting Notes

The nose opens with grassy peat smoke, fresh cereal grain, and maritime minerality — salt spray and wet stone — behind which honeysuckle sweetness and creamy vanilla emerge. The palate is surprisingly creamy: honey and soft vanilla giving way to earthy peat, liquorice, charred oak, and rich citrus. The finish is long and warming, decisively smoky with a dry grassy note and a faint echo of PX sweetness.

How to Enjoy

Neat, with time in the glass — the smoke-to-sweetness balance opens beautifully over ten minutes. A few drops of water soften the peat for newcomers. A superb first Islay for the curious, and a daily-drinker-priced malt for the converted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which distillery makes Port Askaig 8 Year Old?
Elixir Distillers does not officially disclose the source distillery — independent-bottling tradition. Industry speculation points to Caol Ila, just north of the village of Port Askaig.

Is Port Askaig 8 Year Old chill-filtered?
No — it is bottled at 45.8% ABV, non-chill filtered, with no added coloring.

Is this a heavily peated Islay whisky?
Moderately. It is smoky and maritime, but the refill-cask maturation keeps it elegant and approachable rather than medicinal — built as an introduction to the Islay style.

Port Askaig 8 Year Old is in stock and ready to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA — your gateway to Islay, one click away.