Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Heavily Peated
Today, there’s Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Heavily Peated from the Bruichladdich distillery in my glass. This whisky is made from the Scottish Barley – to distinguish it from the Islay Barley version, which is slightly more expensive, but many people say that its better quality compensates for the difference in price.
Port Charlotte Scottish Barley
Bruichladdich means „edge of the river”
Scotch Single Malt
Region: Islay
NAS
50% ABV
Heavily peat, approx. 40 PPM
Matured in ex-Bourbon casks, with a small addition of Sherry casks
Non chill filtered
Color: amber -1, purely natural
Tasting notes
Nose: honey, smoke, caramel, ripe peaches, dried dates, campfire, wet stones, vanilla, new car tires, leather upholstery, flowers – mainly peonies. A wonderful, addictive aroma. Extraordinary! Alcohol is well hidden, despite the young age of the drink. 21/25
Palate: smoke, milk chocolate, ripe bananas, cappuccino, smoked fruits – mainly prunes, plum butter, cloves, cumin, maple syrup. Delicious! 22/25
Finish: slightly yeasty, malt, Porter beer, smoke, wet ground, chestnut honey, arugula. Long and smoky. 21/25
Balance: amazing Islay Whisky. Powerfully peaty and extremely rich. Although it is a NAS, alcohol is exceptionally well hidden both in smell and taste, despite the relatively high volume. Intensity in taste makes this Whisky much more complex, and also much tastier than, for example, Laphroaig 10 (40% version), which by many (including myself) is considered a star of the region. As for me, the smokiness is a little bit too extreme… but if it would be less smoky, then the alcoholic content would be stronger and the whisky would have to ripe in barrels a bit longer. However, the distillery has achieved a great compromise and a well-balanced product. 22/25
Overall: 86/100
Once again, this great distillery has proven that it not only knows how to do it’s job, but also that it can accurately match different tastes. From the completely unpeated Classic Laddie, Heavily Peated Port Charlotte, described here, to the amazing Octomore (309 PPM) … and even Gin (Botanist 22), which can knock many out. Well done Bruichladdich!
Other reviews:
Murray (2017): 94.5 / 100 (but don’t take it too seriously 😉)
Lubięwhisky.pl (2014): 82,5 / 100
Price: from about 50€
Definitely worth the recommendation
More pictures here
