Port Askaig Limited Edition 17 Years Old 2023 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskey

Port Askaig Limited Edition 17 Years Old 2023 is a cask-strength independent bottling of Islay single malt Scotch from Elixir Distillers, a London-based independent bottler founded by Sukhinder Singh. This 17-year expression was selected by Head Blender Ollie Chilton from undisclosed Islay distilleries and bottled without chill filtration or added color, preserving the full character of the spirit matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The Port Askaig range was created in 2009 to showcase the balance of peat smoke and fruit sweetness that defines Islay whisky, and this limited 2023 release represents the top tier of the catalog. Independent bottlings like this offer Chicago whisky collectors access to single malts that might otherwise only appear in distillery-exclusive releases or small-batch private cask programs. Elixir Distillers operates out of the UK and sources barrels through relationships with Islay's most prominent distilleries as well as from its archive of older Islay stock. Sukhinder and his brother Rajbir Singh built The Whisky Exchange into one of the world's leading online whisky retailers before founding Elixir, which also produces The Single Malts of Scotland, Elements of Islay, and Black Tot Rum. Ollie Chilton, the company's Head Blender, assembles Port Askaig releases either from single casks or small vattings of two to fifty barrels, always aiming to capture the interplay of robust peat smoke and soft fruit that defines the island. The Port Askaig brand takes its name from the north-coast village that serves as Islay's main ferry terminal, the entry point for generations of whisky pilgrims. The 17-year age statement indicates extended maturation that softens the initial fire of the new-make spirit while deepening the interaction between wood and smoke. The nose opens with a charcuterie board in sunlight—ripe melon, serrano ham, and plum-green grapes—before bonfire smoke and salted caramel build in waves alongside lemon and orange oil. On the palate, dense smoke and a pronounced minerality carry raspberry leaf and milk chocolate; red fruit mingles with citrus, developing into lemon curd and blackcurrant jam while medicinal peat ebbs and flows. The finish turns herbaceous, returning to the smoked melon from the nose, lingering for minutes. This is a whisky for contemplative evenings, sipped neat or with a few drops of water to open the layers; pair it with aged cheddar, dark chocolate, or smoked oysters. The cask-strength bottling (typically around 50-55% ABV, depending on the batch) rewards patience and rewards adding water incrementally to find the expression you prefer. Port Askaig Limited Edition 17 Years Old 2023 is available for pickup at Off Premise in Lincoln Park at 1128 W Armitage Ave, local Chicago delivery, or nationwide shipping.