What they say

Introducing the newest Cask Exploration edition of our heavily peated Islay single malt, the Port Charlotte PAC:01 2011 demonstrates the versatility of our soft, barbeque smokey Scotch in the highest quality French oak casks. Two parcels of Scottish barley distilled spirit have matured for a minimum of six years in ex-American oak casks before being transferred to red wine casks from the Gironde left bank, north of Bordeaux. Bottled at 56.1% abv, this spirit showcases stunning spice and fruit notes. It is a rich and elegant, undeniably Islay single malt.

Official tasting notes

• Nose – Lots of fresh, fruit aromas mingle with the dry peat smoke to entice you into the dram; from the oak comes spices – cloves, ginger and cassia, along with chocolate, toasted malt with toffee, brown sugar and delicate coconut and vanilla notes. As you nose again, the fruit notes of both the spirit and the wood come together – melon and citrus from the spirit and dried plums and raisin from the cask. The earthy peat smoke wraps around the fruit and spice and holds everything together, highlighting the wonderful marine and ozone notes that breeze through the dram.
• Palate – As the first drop touches your tongue, a wave of flavours sweep across the palate, the sweetness from the oak and malt lead, followed by the smoke, citrus and dried fruit notes. Another sip helps to order the flavours, and you find the oak notes, the dried fruit, marzipan and spice. Caramel and chocolate notes emerge alongside the peat smoke with its earthy richness. A little water opens the citrus fruit and marine elements and brings out a little more of the coconut and vanilla notes from the oak. The structure on the palate is firm and round and balances the depth of flavour of this whisky.
• Finish – The peat smoke comes through on the finish with a more medicinal phenol style. Coconut and floral notes waver, and a saline marine element combines with the earthy smoke in the classic Port Charlotte style. The oak’s softness and the minerality of the spirit become wrapped in smoke, a familiar signature to this dram.
• Character – The depth of the oak and the harmony it creates with the smoke define this Port Charlotte cask edition’s character. Muscular and round in texture and flavour, yet with a typically dry, earthy smoke and marine breeze style, Port Charlotte.

What I say

• ABV 56.1%
• Age 8 Years Old
• Bottler Official
• Bottling Port Charlotte PAC: 01
• Cask French oak cask
• Category Single malt scotch whisky
• Cost £90
• Origin Bruichladdich Distillery
• Outturn
• Region Islay
• Released 2021
• Vintage 2011

My tasting notes

• Appearance Bright 18ct gold (10/20), medium-large tears and medium legs.
• Nose peat smoke, sweet, malty and oaky, earthier and turf notes add to the peat, charred wood, vanilla, light lemon curd, banoffee pie, toasted coconut, plum duff, a hint rubbery or strong tannic tea, water softens the peaty elements and enhances the fruitier elements.
• Taste Full-bodied, rich and oily, sugary malt, lemon zest, honey, some soft spices, ginger, cinnamon, marzipan and toasted almond, bbq marinade meat, tannic oak wood, soft peat pervades throughout, with water more citrus, baked apples, white grape and cantaloupe melon.
• Finish Long, soft medicinal peat, menthol and TCP-like in places, sweet & salt, some beach ozone.
• Overall Bold, earthy and chewy peat, lots of sweet malt and plenty of fruit from the casks. With an abundance of French oak tannins and wine influence this reminded me a lot of Ardbeg’s Corryvreckan expression, however the peat here seems drier and earthier and less oily and phenolic than Ardbeg.

Score 88/100

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