Port Charlotte is the peatier version of Bruichladdich, although not as peaty as Octomore, at 40ppm it is the equivalent of what Port Ellen was. Let's hope the spirits compares in more than just the peat level.
Port Charlotte 6yo 2002-2009 46% OB for www.whiskyauction.com "Baffo forever" cask#1170 btl.227/480
Thomas Krüger, owner of whiskyauction.com, have had some Port Charlottes in this series, only Port Charlottes actually, and this is the 6th edition. Light golden hue. It smells of honey, aniseed, herbal bitters, rosemary, vanilla, apricot marmalade, dark coffee, minced garlic, banana, minty, camphor, licorice, intense sweet notes. Except a more modest peat character it isn't far from some Octomores. The taste is peppery, sweet, vanilla, honey, earthy, leather, acrylic, wax, stearic, peaty sweet notes. Seems well matured for its 6 years only. An expressive cask.
Great expectations for future Port Charlottes: 8
Port Charlotte 9yo 59.2% OB PC 9
You can easily follow how old the most recent Port Charlotte has become by looking at the number after the "PC" on the latest OBs. I can't weight till they get to 15, 18 or even 20, Then we'll see its true potential. The color is amber. This one smells of tangerine, leather, cinnamon, onions, custard, raisins, cheddar, honey, certainly some sherried casks in the mix here. The taste is bittersweet, red berries, oily, peaty, bitter sherried notes, white grapes, lime zest.
Still a bit raw this one, but in a couple years it'll be superb: 6.5
Port Charlotte 9yo 2002-2012 63.1% Malts of Scotland cask#12034
This one, from an IB whom has bottled probably more PCs than any other thus far. I hope they'll keep doing that. From a sherry hogshead. Some strength in this youngster.The color is light golden. It smells of sweet, nutty, caramel, cinnamon, creamy, peaches, honey, very rich and sweet, not as peaty this time around. This one reminds me of a fantastic Laphroaig Port Wood I had a year or two back, bottled for Whisky & Cigars Berlin. The taste is sweet, drying, oaky, peppery, tongue-prickling, I believe I'll even add some water to this even though its a peat bomb. Now it turns sweeter, more drying and bitter, some earthy notes, rubber, bitter, quite some off-notes now.
The nose was utterly superb, but the rest left some weird tastes: 6
Port Charlotte 7yo 63.5% Whisky-Doris cask#1171
Sister/brother/neighbor cask to the very good one bottled for Whiskyauction. I hope this one will be climbing up towards an 8 being bottled at CS. But then again, it could be a major fluke. Light amber color. It smells of peaty, peppery, chillies, oaky, dried herbs, rubbery, lime rind, ginger, orange zest, vanilla. The taste is sweet, drying, wheat, onion soup, grainy, time to add some water. With water it turnsmore custardy, but still mostly dry and peppery. This is a bit too young I'm afraid, raw peaty character and very spirity.
Not nearly as good as the cask#1170: 4
Port Charlotte 10yo 2001-2011 66.3% Malts of Scotland cask#11017
From a white rioja hogshead, White Rioja is a wine produced of several types of grapes and haven't got the best of reputation in the wine world. But any cask goes, or went as some might say these days, at Bruichladdich. The color is amber. It smells of sweet, nectarine, tangerines, kiwi, exotic fruits. very sweet and light PC. The taste is burnt, vanilla, peaty and peppery, almost a bit harsh, drying, yeasty, wheat, black peppers, chalk. This needs water, or else I'm totally lost. With water it turns sweet, bitter, vodka jello shots, very weird, I wish wouldn't be the conclusion of this otherwise promising tasting. But fear not, there's plenty more Port Charlotte to come.
This is a bitter, yeasty and very raw spirit: 3
Next tasting:
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