Port Askaig Nouvelle Vague (70cl, 56.8%)

A Caol Ila bottled as Port Askaig Nouvelle Vague, a peated Islay single malt at 56.8% ABV in a 70cl bottle. It is an experiment by Oliver Chilton, master blender at Elixir Distillers, named after the 1960s movement that shook up French cinema. The whisky combines three American hogshead casks distilled in 2012 with a new oak cask distilled in 2010. The new oak is the key element, adding a rich, indulgent profile that is new for Port Askaig. The nose is peaty and fresh, with gentle smoke, dry hay and cut grass. The palate is smooth, with dark cocoa chocolate, burnt wood and caramel, and the long smoky finish carries liquorice, menthol and vanilla.