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Port Charlotte

Scotch Single Malt Whisky Library / The Collection > P
PORT  CHARLOTTE   
5 years old
63,5 %            
EVOLUTION P C 5
2001
CASK STRENGHT
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky Heavily Peated
Distilled 2001
Matured in Top Quality American Oak
and Sherry Casks
Bottled 2006
Limited Release
Numbered Bottles
6038 Bottles
Non Chill - Filtered
Colouring Free
Distilled, Matured and Bottled at
Bruichladdich Distillery, Islay

De eerste botteling van de Port Charlotte, zwaar geturfrookt en geproduceerd vlak na de heropening in 2001.
Genoemd naar de reeds lang verdwenen distilleerderij (1829 - 1929) en ook genoemd Lochindaal en Rhinns in de gelijknamige plaats op Islay.
Gerijpt in de oude warehouses van Port Charlotte.
In homage to the exceptional single malt produced in The Islay Village of Port Charlotte until 1929

PORT  CHARLOTTE     
7 years old  
61 %                                                
SIN  AN  DOIGH  ILEACH  P C  7
2 0 0 1
CASK  STRENGHT
Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Scotch Whisky Heavily Peated
Distilled 2001
Bottled in 2008
Limited Release
Numbered Bottles
24000 Bottles
Non Chill - Filtered
Colouring Free
Distilled & Bottled on the Isle of Islay
at Bruichladdich Distillery          

PORT  CHARLOTTE        
Aged 8 years
60.5 %                              
AR  DUTHCHAS  P C  8
2 O O 1
CASK  STRENGHT
ISLAY  SINGLE  MALT  SCOTCH  WHISKY
Distilled 2001
Bottled 2009
Limited Release
30.000 Numbered Bottles
Non Chill Filtered
Colouring Free
Distilled & Bottled on the Isle of Islay
At Bruichladdich Distillery

PORT  CHARLOTTE
Aged  8 years old  
66.3 %
SINGLE  MALT  SCOTCH WHISKY
Society Single Cask No: 172.2
Distilled Dec. 2001
Cask Type: Refill Barrel
Outturn: 247 Bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh.
"On the Beach

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle
has been passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world
and approved for release as a Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight
our members are selected, true to our motto:” To leave no nose upturned”

Bath salts and dentist’s mouthwash in a barber’s shop. Only when you taste
does the smoke hit you, along with intense sweetness and salt spray. Water
modifies  the smoke to burnt marshmallows, with faded creosote behind.
Complex for its age.

Are we in a barber’s shop or at the dentist ? Mouthwash is first apparent,
then bath salts followed by that clean Bay Rum shampoo barber”s shop
scent. No smoke…..until you taste it. Intensely und surprisingly sweet to
start, then very salty, then Boom;big smoke, and a long smoky aftertaste.

Bold and intense, but drinks well at full strength. With water the smoke –
becomes more billowy to start with, with burnt marshmallows, then warm
wood washes with faded creosote and smells from the sea.

The taste remains big and sweet, with masses of smoke; refreshing over-
all; mouthcooling, but warming in its effect.

There are plans to revive this distillery; currently it is made at Bruichladdich.  

PORT  CHARLOTTE   
Aged 8 years old  
66.8 %
SINGLE   MALT  SCOTCH
WHISKY  FROM  A  SINGLE  CASK
Society Cask No: 127.4
Distilled: Dec. 2001
Cask Type: Refill Hogshead
Outturn 238 Bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, leith, Edinburgh.
"On the road to Kathmandu"

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle
has been passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world
and approved for release as a Society bottling. Only single cask whiskies
that promise to intriguie, entertain and delight our members are selected,
true to our motto:’ To leave no nose upturned’

Smoky and herbal, the nose also has maritime notes, heather, bacon and
tar. Water elicits ‘hippy fragrances’Aand new laid roads. The palate, sweet,
herbal and meaty, has smoke and flames dancing on the tongue; flowers,
chocolate, liquorice and fudge.

The smoky, herbal nose brought tears to our eyes. It also had mineral and
maritime notes, with heather, bacon, cornflakes and tar. The unreduced
palate was fierce – sweet, tarry, herbal and meaty; smoke and flames
danced diabolically on our tongues (‘burnt botanicals’ and incinerated toast).

The reduced nose still required caution – violets, pine, patchouli  and other
‘hippy fragrances’ with freshly laid tar – ‘the Road to Kathmandu’suggested
one panelist.The reduced palate remained huge – tar, smoke, burnt flowers
and dark sweetness ( chocolate and liquorice fudge) – toothstripping, but
with great personality; Supposed a ‘medium – peated’ version of distillery 23 –
Heaven help us !

PORT  CHARLOTTE    
Age  6 years  
65,2 %                     
SINGLE  MALT  SCOTCH
WHISKY  FROM  A  SINGLE  CASK
Distilled August 2003
Cask Type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Society cask No: 127.6
1 of 241 Bottles
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults,
Leith, Edinburgh
Send out an SOS !

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has
been passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and appro-
ved for release as a Society bottling. Only single cask whiskies that promise to
intrigue, entertain and delight our members are selected, true to our motto: “To
leave no nose upturned”

The nose has charcoal, mustard, sticky toffee pudding, pumice and heather;
water  brings out beach barbeques (charcoal embers, smoke, hot rocks) The
palate is eye – watering, breath – taking and manly, with pork ribs, lavender,
heather honey, big smoke, burnt lemons and petrol

Panellists made lots of contributions describing the nose – charcoal, firelighters,
pumice, mustard, tobacco, sticky toffee pudding, heather and rosemary. The
unreduced palate had huge heat – “Send out an SOS !”said someone, Ëye-
watering but good”said another – pork ribs, bog myrtle, lavender, heather honey
and petrol. The reduced nose evoked beach barbeques (smoke and charcoal
embers on the rocks) seaweed, sushi, Caramac and pepper. Even diluted, the
palate was called “Fabulpous”, “Enormous”, “Breath – taking”and “Manly”:  big
smoke, burnt lemons and herbs.

The whisky scientist said, “I’have never had so much to say about a whisky”The
whisky initials are Politically Correct.

PORT  CHARLOTTE   
AN TURAS
MOR    
46 %  
ISLAY  SINGLE  MALT                                              
Scotch Whisky
BRUICHLADDICH  HEAVILY  PEATED
SCOTCH  WHISKY
Non chill – filtered
Colouring free
Distilled, matured and Bottled at
Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, Scotland

This Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt Whisky has been distilled at Bruichladdich Distillery
by  Master Distiller Jim McEwan in homage to the exceptional single malt produced in
the village of Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, until 1929.

An Turas  Mor:  Literally “The Great Journey “, and for those that have walked with us on
The Odyssey of this bold and purposeful Islay Spirit, The road takes another turn and
another rich vista opens out before us.

For us, this feels like our young Ileach has finally come of age. With  P C 5, 6, 7 and 8 we
shared  with you the quiet and beguiling evolution of this powerful Hebridean Dram.

Now head distiller Jim McEwan offers us a glimpse of his original  vision for Port Charlotte –
A vatting of selected casks ro create a definitive statement of intent: “Cuairt Beatha”……
The walk of life continues.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         
PORT  CHARLOTTE                                                                                                                                                                                  
1 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
46 %                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Aged 10 years Heavily - Peated                                                                                                                                               
Islay Coastal Single Malt                                                                                                                                                         
HEAVILY  PEATED  ISLAY                                                                                                                                                            
SINGLE  MALT                                                                                                                                                                                      
4 0 PPM                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Jim McEwan Bruichladdich Head Distiller                                                                                                                                  
Distilled, matured and Bottled at                                                                                                                                                    
Bruichladdich Distillery, Islay

This “Peat Project” bottling brings together spirit from a number of different vintages for
added complexity, and is head distiller Jim McEwan’s statement of his vision for Port Char-
lotte:  The power of peat with elegance, complexity and the floral topnotes for which our
Bruichladdich stills are famous.

Peated to 40 P P M and bottled using Islay spring water from the Octomore field of farmer
James Brown.

The heavily – peated Port Charlotte spirit was some of the first to run after we had resur-
rected this wonderful Victorian distillery. While our core Bruichladdich spirit is elegant,
complex and unpeated, a persistent thought intrigued us:

What would happen if we used our tall, long – necked Victorian stills to produce a heavily –
The floral elegance of Bruichladdich and heavy peat – could it work?

You will judge the results of this fascinating – and ongoing – mission for ourselves: The
Port Charlotte Peat Project.
                                                                                                                                                                                                             
PORT  CHARLOTTE   
Age  9 years  
65,9 %                                                                                                                    
SINGLE  MALT  SCOTCH  WHISKY                                                                                                                                           
FROM  A  SINGLE  CASK  
Society Cask Code:  127.15                                                                                                                                                    
Date distilled: 21st June 2002                                                                                                                                             
Cask type: Refill Barrel / Ex Bourbon                                                                                                                                     
1 of only 256 bottles                                                                                                                                                                
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society                                                                                                                                                            
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh                                                                                                                                                      
A jostling jingle - bag  

We, the Tasting Panel verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been passed
through some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for release as a
Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members are selected, true to our motto: “To leave no nose upturned”.

The nose combines germolene, cinnamon, coal – dust, sherbet fizz and peaches; water
brings lavender, burnt ginger and volcanic ash. The palate has sugar – glazed donuts in a
coal cellar, roasted toffee, pepper, heather, lime and salt – later, liquorice, leather and
mineral notes.

The nose was a jostling jingle – bag of germolene, lavender, cinnamon and coal dust, fondant
lollies, sherbet fizz, peaches and citronella.

The palate had us leaping all over the place ( in more ways than one) – sugar – glazed donuts
in a coal cellar, roasted coffee beans, white pepper, heather, lime and salt.

Water (and it takes plenty) turned the nose fragrant and “blousy” ( must be the lavender)
turpentine, burnt ginger and volcanic ash.

The reduced palate uncovered nice nuttiness, leather, liquorice, pastis, parma violets and
flinty mineral notes.

This peaty beasty from the Rinns was too much for one panelist – the rest loved it.
                                                                                                                                                                                             
PORT  CHARLOTTE   
59,8 %                                                                                                                                                                     
P C  1 0                                                                                                                                                                                    
TRO  NA                                                                                                                                                                                           
LINNTEAN                                                                                                                                                                           
ISLAY  SINGLE  MALT                                                                                                                                                          
BRUICHLADDICH  HEAVILY  PEATED                                                                                                                                     
SCOTCH  WHISKY                                                                                                                                                                      
Non - Chillfiltered, Colouring Free                                                                                                                                                  
Distilled, Matured and Bottled at                                                                                                                                   
Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay

This Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt Whisky has been distilled at Bruichladdich Distillery
by master Distiller Jim McEwan in homage to the exceptional single malt produced in the
village of Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, until 1929.

Extraordinary to think of the great pride we felt when bottling P C  5 back in 2006, in our
heart  of hearts, none of us knew whether we’ d still be around to celebrate P C  10.

This fantastic spirit’s coming of age, it’s been a long and rocky road but P C  10 is here and

This new Isl is the youngest distilleryay single malt has reached it’s milestone - it’s here to stay.

As we look forward to the rich future of this young Ileach, we bringb with us the next
generation here at Bruichladdich.

Allan Logan , and has been learning his trade at Jim’s right hand for 10 years. He and other
young craftsmen coming through are the future of this distillery – we recognize them now –
“Tro Na Linntean”: Trough the generations”.

PORT  CHARLOTTE
Aged  12  years  
63 %                              
SINGLE  MALT  SCOTCH  WHISKY
FROM  A  SINGLE  CASK
Date Distilled: 21st  June 2002
Cask Type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Outturn:  One of only 159 Bottles
Society Single Cask No: 127.40
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
Mango chicken vindaloo

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been
passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-
lease as a Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members
are selected, true to our motto: “TO  LEAVE  NO  NOSE UPTURNED “.

Peat compost, cedar wood essential oil and Jamaican ginger cake next to chilli, lime and
coriander prawns. The taste neat was a hot and spicy mango chicken vindaloo. Water
added spice – crusted tuna with charred peppers as well as a sweet espresso

Deep and earthy aromas to start with; peat compost, cedar wood essential oil,
pumpernickel bread and Jamaican fresh toot ginger cake. There were fesher notes as
well of chilli, lime and coriander prawns as well as Thai ginger – lemongrass shrimps.

The taste neat was hot, spicy and sweet like a mango chicken vindaloo dish with raisins
and sultanas,

Water released a charcoal aroma like that of grilled chicken bacon rashers and spice –
crusted tuna with charred peppers and lime .

The taste now had plenty of spice, cinnamon and cloves but at the same time that of a
Sweet strong espresso and strawberry and black pepper cake.

Peated

PORT  CHARLOTTE
Aged  12  years
64,8 %                                           
SINGLE  MALT  SCOTCH  WHISKY
FROM  A  SINGLE  CASK
Date Distilled: 21st  June 2002
Cask Type: Refill Barrel / ex Bourbon
Outturn: One of Only 247 Bottles
Society Single Cask: CODE: 12 7 . 4 1
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, Leith, Edinburgh
Wham bam thank you ma'am !

We, the Tasting Panel, verify that the Scotch Malt Whisky inside this bottle has been
passed under some of the most scrupulous noses in the world and approved for re-
lease as a Society bottling.

Only single cask whiskies that promise to intrigue, entertain and delight our members
are selected, true to our motto: “TO  LEAVE  NO  NOSE UPTURNED “.

Beeswax on leather, heather honey, Germolene and lavender oil. Bacon cooked over charred
wood with HP sauce. It cleaned up with pistachio Turkish delight and camphor scented cashmere
jumpers. Charred spare ribs and Monin syrup with, yes more lavender.

Fire in the first aid box! Beeswax on leather, heather honey, singed bandages, Germolene
and old peat hearth. Fragrant lavender oil from incense burner drifted over the top.

Sausages and bacon cooked over charred wood and dried lavender, served with fruity HP
sauce and almond toasted with honey.

Water only emphasized more of the same but cleaned up with shortbread, pistachio
Turkish delight.

Lux flakes and camphor scented cashmere jumpers from the chest.

To finish, the panel found blackened spare ribs with a salty, peppery crust and Monin coffee
syrup  with….wait for it…more lavender!

PORT  CHARLOTTE
50 %                                                                            
SCOTTISH  BARLEY
HEAVILY  PEATED
Islay Single Malt
Peated to 40 PPM and Bottled using
Islay Spring Water from the Octomore
Field of Farmer James Brown
Non Chill - Filtered
Colouring Free
Distilled, Matured and Bottled at
Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay

The heavily peated Port Charlotte spirit was some of the first to run after we had
resurrected this wonderful Victorian distillery, while our core Bruichladdich spirit
is elegant complex and unpeated, a persistent thought intrigued us.

What would happen if we used our tall ,ong – necked Victorian stills to produce
a heavily – peated spirit? The floral elegant of Bruichladdich and heavy peat –
could it work? You will judge the results of this fascinating – and ongoing –
mission for yourselves : The Port Charlotte peat product.

We believe Terroir Matters:
We believe in Islay,
We believe in People.
We believe
In Authenticity,
Provenance and
Traceability.
We believe in slow
We believe
In Challenging
Convention
We believe in the
Soul of the Artisan

PORT  CHARLOTTE
2 0 0 8  
50 %                                                         
ISLAY  BARLEY
HEAVILY  PEATED
To 4 0 P P M
ISLAY  SINGLE  MALT
6  FARMS
6  TERROIRS
Coull, Kynagarry, Island, Rockside,Starchmill, Sunderland
Using Spring Water from the Octomore Field
Of Farmer James Brown
Port Charlotte

The Heavily Peated Bruichalddich Scotch Whisky
Distilled, Matured and Bottled Un - Chill Filtered
and Colouring Free at Bruichladdich Distillery,
Isle of Islay, Scotland

Port Charlotte single malts proudly carry the name of the Islay village that clings to the
shore of Loch Indaal, two miles south of Bruichladdich.

Although elegant and floral, these are heavily peated whiskies, evocative of the
characteristic style of the old 19th century distillery that finally fell silent in 1929.

We believe that Islay whiskies should have an authenticity derived from where it is
distilled and where it is matured, from the philosophies of those who distil it; a
sense of place, of terroir, that speaks of the land, the barley and water from which
it was made, and of the human soul that gave it life.

Bruichladdich has made commitments to Islay farmers who now grow barley for us
to distil single malt from 100 % Islay barley for the first time in the Island’s history.

Multiple farms, multiple terroirs our aim is to create a product of flawless integrity
and the most thought provoking whisky possible.

6 Farms, 6 Terroirs:
Coull, Kynagarry, Island, Rockside, Starchmill, Sunderland.

“Once again Land and Dram united”.

We believeTerroir Matters
We believe in Islay
We believe in People
We believe in Authencity, Provenance and Traceability
We believe in Slow
We believe  in challenging Convention
We believe in the Soul of the Artisan

PORT  CHARLOTTE  29Th May 2001

PORT  CHARLOTTE
10
46 %
Aged 10 years
HEAVILY  PEATED  ISLAY  SINGLE  MALT
Islay Coastal Single Malt
Distilled, Matured and Bottled at
Bruichladdich Distillery,  Islay

Our mission was to explore the union of the elegance of spirit by the
Bruichladdich stills and the heavily peated single malt style which
Islay is famous.

This spirit represents a great milestone for us at Bruichladdich. The
Port Charlotte project has been a great – adventure – journey with
many twists and winds, and no few surprises along the way.

And here it is finally at 10 years – a landmark age for a whisky, and a
Opportunity for us to pause to look back over the road travelled,
to reflect and to look again with fresh eyes on the fascinating road
to come.

G. W. F. Hegel:
“Thus to be independent of public opinion is the first fromal condition
of achieving anything great or rational wheter in lif or in science”.

Islay

PORT CHARLOTTE  also see Bruichladdich, Octomore

PORT CHARLOTTE 46 % THE PEAT PROJECT THE HEAVILY PEATED BRUICHLADDICH SCOTCH WHISKY ISLAY SINGLE MALT Distilled, matured and Bottled at Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay

This "Peat Project" bottling brings together spirit from a number of different vintages for added complexity, and is head distiller Jim McEwan's statement of his vision for Port Char-
lotte: The power of peat with elegance, complexity and the floral topnotes for which our
Bruichladdich stills are famous.

Peated to 40 P P M and bottled using Islay spring water from the Octomore field of farmer
James Brown.

The heavily - peated Port Charlotte spirit was some of the first to run after we had resur-
rected this wonderful Victorian distillery. While our core Bruichladdich spirit is elegant,
complex and unpeated, a persistent thought intrigued us:

What would happen if we used our tall, long - necked Victorian stills to produce a heavily -
The floral elegance of Bruichladdich and heavy peat - could it work?

You will judge the results of this fascinating - and ongoing - mission for ourselves: The
Port Charlotte Peat Project.
Our mission was to explore the union of the elegance of spirit produced by the Bruich-
laddich stills and the heavily peated single malt style for which Islay is famous.

This spirit represents a great milestone for us at Bruichladdich. The Port Charlotte project
has been a great - adventure - a journey with many twists and winds, and no few surprises
along the way.

And here it is finally at 10 years - a landmark age for a whisky, and a opportunity for us to
pause to look back over the road travelled, to reflect and to look again with fresh eyes
on the fascinating road yet to come.

G. W. F. Hegel:

"Thus to be independent of public opinion is the first formal condition of achieving
anything great or rational wheter in life or in science".

This Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt Whisky has been distilled at Bruichladdich Distillery
by master Distiller Jim McEwan in homage to the exceptional single malt produced in the
village of Port Charlotte, Isle of Islay, until 1929.

Extraordinary to think of the great pride we felt when bottling P C 5 back in 2006, in our
heart of hearts, none of us knew whether we' d still be around to celebrate P C 10.

This fantastic spirit's coming of age, it's been a long and rocky road but P C 10 is here and

This new Isle is the youngest distillery single malt has reached it's milestone - it's here to stay.

As we look forward to the rich future of this young Ileach, we bring with us the next
generation here at Bruichladdich.

Allan Logan , and has been learning his trade at Jim's right hand for 10 years. He and other
young craftsmen coming through are the future of this distillery - we recognize them now -
"Tro Na Linntean": Trough the generations".

The heavily peated Port Charlotte spirit was some of the first to run after we had resurrected
this wonderful Victorian distillery, while our core Bruichladdich spirit
is elegant complex and unpeated, a persistent thought intrigued us.

What would happen if we used our tall ,ong - necked Victorian stills to produce
a heavily - peated spirit? The floral elegant of Bruichladdich and heavy peat -
could it work? You will judge the results of this fascinating - and ongoing -
mission for yourselves : The Port Charlotte peat product.

Port Charlotte single malts proudly carry the name of the Islay village that clings to the
shore of Loch Indaal, two miles south of Bruichladdich.

Although elegant and floral, these are heavily peated whiskies, evocative of the
characteristic style of the old 19th century distillery that finally fell silent in 1929.

We believe that Islay whiskies should have an authenticity derived from where it is
distilled and where it is matured, from the philosophies of those who distil it; a
sense of place, of terroir, that speaks of the land, the barley and water from which
it was made, and of the human soul that gave it life.

Bruichladdich has made commitments to Islay farmers who now grow barley for us
to distil single malt from 100 % Islay barley for the first time in the Island's history.

Multiple farms, multiple terroirs our aim is to create a product of flawless integrity
and the most thought provoking whisky possible.

6 Farms, 6 Terroirs:
Coull, Kynagarry, Island, Rockside, Starchmill, Sunderland.

"Once again Land and Dram united".
We believeTerroir Matters
We believe in Islay
We believe in People
We believe in Authencity, Provenance and Traceability
We believe in Slow
We believe in challenging Convention
We believe in the Soul of the Artisan

A heavily peated single malt, distilled on the Isle of Islay at Bruichladdich distillery.

Port Charlotte is Bruichladdich’s heavily-peated single malt, with a peating level of around 40ppm. Bruichladdich describes Port Charlotte as having ‘the power of peat with the elegance, complexity and floral top notes for which our Bruichladdich stills are famous’.

The first Port Charlotte release was the five-year-old PC5 Evolution, and successive bottlings have included Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2008 (distilled from barley grown on Coull, Kynagarry, Island, Rockside, Starchmill and Sunderland farms), Port Charlotte Scottish Barley Eòrna Na h-Alba (PC11) and the travel retail exclusive PC12 Oileanach Furachail. The latter marks the retirement of Bruichladdich master distiller Jim McEwan and the succession of Adam Hannett to the role.

The Port Charlotte brand commemorates the former Lochindaal distillery, which operated in the village of Port Charlotte two miles south of Bruichladdich from 1829 until 1929. Initially known as Port Charlotte distillery, the facility was making 128,000 gallons of spirit per annum during Alfred Barnard’s mid-1880s visit, which compared with Lagavulin’s 75,000 gallons and the 250,000 gallons being produced by Ardbeg at the time.

In 1920 Lochindaal’s owner, JF Sheriff & Co, was bought out by Benmore Distilleries but just nine years later Benmore was purchased by the Distillers Company Limited (DCL), which immediately closed Lochindaal.

The plant was subsequently removed although some of the buildings continued to be utilised by the now defunct Islay Creamery until the 1990s, while others were taken over by a garage business and Islay Youth Hostel. Two substantial, stone-built warehouses have remained in use for the maturation of spirit, and it is there that today’s Port Charlotte single malt is aged.

There too Bruichladdich planned to create a new distillery in which to produce heavily-peated whisky, but the plans never came to fruition, and it seems highly unlikely that distilling will return to the village since the acquisition of Bruichladdich by French company Rémy Cointreau in 2012.

The Bruichladdich team notes that ‘following his visit here [to Lochindaal] in 1885 Alfred Barnard wrote ‘Peat only is used in drying the malt, fired in open chauffeurs,’ a testament supported in a few surviving faded photographs showing the huge peat stacks waiting to be fed to the kiln fires. Port Charlotte is in essence a tribute to the men who worked Lochindaal.

Production of Port Charlotte at Bruichladdich commenced on 29 May 2001, and was the very first distillation carried out by the new distillery team after its revival in the hands of Murray McDavid, following five years of silence.

Few single malts start their journey in such a complex combination of casks. Fewer still complete their journey in genuine Oloroso sherry hogsheads from a fine Spanish bodega like Fernando de Castilla.

Demonstrating the versatility of our heavily peated Port Charlotte spirit, we introduce the latest in our Cask Exploration series.

Our Port Charlotte OLC:01 2010 will replace our Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010 as a limited edition, cask strength release. It is shipping now from our distillery shop and will be made available to your local stockist in the coming weeks and months.

PORT
CHARLOTTE
ISLAY BARLEY
2012

This high provenance, heavily-peated single malt was distilled from Islay-grown barley in 2012. A total of eight Islay farms came together to harvest the 2011 crop for Port Charlotte over a tempestuous summer. Each farmer had worked with us before, in Hunter Jackson, Ian Torrance, Ian MacKerrel, Raymond Fletcher, Mark French, Alistair Torrance, Raymond Stewart with father and son team Donald and Andrew Jones. Our community’s commitment to Islay is embodied here, where local barley is raised, distilled, matured and bottled only on Islay.

Our Port Charlotte Islay Barley expressions are a direct embodiment of everything an Islay whisky can and should be. Not only is it conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on the island, but the barley harvest for this 2013 vintage was also raised on our home shores in 2012 by seven of our Islay farming partners. Hunter Jackson at Cruach, Ian McKerrell at Island farm, Raymond Fletcher at Dunlossit estate, Donald and Andrew Jones at Coull, Mark French at Rockside, Alastair Torrance at Mulindry and Raymond Stewart at Sunderland undertook the risk of growing in challenging conditions to deliver the barley for this Scotch whisky with unparalleled provenance. This eight-year-old single malt has matured in ex-American and ex-wine casks hailing from the Pessac-Léognan region of France.

“THERE IS SOMETHING MAGICAL ABOUT HOW THE ISLAY GROWN BARLEY HOLDS THE SMOKE BACK FOR A MOMENT UNTIL RELEASING IT DRAMATICALLY ON THE FINISH.”
– ADAM HANNETT

TASTE NOTES
ALDEHYDIC
OAKY
NUTTY
SPICY
MARINE
SMOKEY
CITRUS
SHERRIED
MALTY
VANILLA
FLORAL
FRUITY
PORT
CHARLOTTE
ISLAY BARLEY
2013
TASTE NOTES
Nose -The nose opens with delicate floral notes of lily and geranium before warm orange zest and dried earthy peat smoke brings body and gravity. Banoffee pie and digestive biscuit come out from behind the peat smoke and carry forward this dram’s malty, fruity character. Cherry coconut and malted barley jostle with apricot and melon. The nose is so enticing; the sweetness of the oak and the outstanding rubbery, peppery phenolic notes are balanced perfectly with the fruit and floral style of our slow, careful fermentation and distillation.

Palate – The first taste is a wondrous thing; all at once, the salinity, the fruit, the light peat smoke, and the sweet oak show their presence in a whirl of complexity and entice you in to go again. There is great texture from the spirit, and its time resting in carefully selected oak allows a subtle almond note to combine with coconut, caramel, vanilla, and muscovado sugar. The peat smoke in this whisky is as beautifully balanced as ever, weaving through the components, highlighting them but not dominating. A dram that is gentle on the palate yet has a tremendous depth of flavour.

Finish – The finish again shows the balance we are looking for. The smoke, fruit, oak and floral notes melt into each other, and a beautiful creamy texture allows melon, peach and cherry to come through before dwindling into the dry embers of peat in the hearth.

Character – Islay grown barley brings so much complexity to the character in this whisky. The peat smoke in this Port Charlotte is, as ever, beautifully evocative of that traditional Islay style. Purity from the distillation and complexity of maturation brings all the components together with harmony and balance

Port Charlotte launches new Islay Barley 2014 vintage
A new whisky from Port Charlotte has been released,

February 14, 2023

Port Charlotte has today (Tuesday 14 February) launched Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014, the latest vintage in its island provenance series.

Conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, this single malt uses barley exclusively grown on the island from eight separate farms.

Located within 15 miles of the distillery, each local farmer undertook the risk of growing in challenging conditions to deliver the barley used for the 2014 vintage, resulting in a Port Charlotte single malt with total traceability and unparalleled provenance.

“Our Port Charlotte Islay Barley expressions encapsulate everything an Islay whisky can and should be, and the latest 2014 vintage is no different,” said Head Distiller, Adam Hannett.

“However, growing on Islay is no mean feat. Our location on Scotland’s rugged west coast and unpredictable weather, coupled with grazing wild geese and deer, means a successful harvest is never a given. But it’s a risk worth taking.

“As well as adding complexity to the character of this single malt, using Islay grown barley goes beyond just the pursuit of flavour.

"This is a whisky which evokes a true sense of place, helps support Islay’s agricultural economy and celebrates our island community.”

From just one farmer in 2004, Bruichladdich Distillery now works with a total of 20 farming partners on Islay - with over 50% of the distillery’s barley grown on the remote Hebridean island.

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These farming partnerships not only help to develop new soil-improving practices and encourage crop diversification but support the integral agricultural community.

With a quiet complexity, Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 showcases the delicate balance of fruit and smoke which the single malt is renowned for.

Bottled at 50% ABV and peated to 40 PPM, the maturation profile consists of 84% in first fill bourbon casks, 8% in second fill Virgin oak and 8% in second fill Bordeaux wine casks.

Port Charlotte Islay Barley
The team say that the tasting notes include: malty digestive biscuits and peat embers open on the nose, followed by sweet vanilla and notes of honey, toffee and Crème Brulee.

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On the palate, an initial citrus tang is counterbalanced with gentle peat smoke, moving into a medley of apricot, peach and ripe melon. With notes of stoned fruit and toasted oak, the finish is beautifully balanced with a lingering hint of Port Charlotte’s signature barbeque smoke.

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 is priced at £75 and available to purchase now via the Bruichladdich website or at selected specialist whisky retailers.
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