The first in Bruichladdich’s new range of Port Charlotte expressions. By Holly Graham.
What is it? Bruichladdich has relaunched its heavily peated single malt whisky Port Charlotte with a brand new Port Charlotte 10, replete with a snazzy new green glass bottle nodding toward its fellow Islay category bottles, and sexy modern labelling. As with all Bruichladdich products, Port Charlotte 10 is conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, using spring water from the island too – made very clear in Bruichladdich’s trendy new “We are Islay” campaign which spotlights its employees and the island. This is the first of the new Port Charlotte range, nestled in the middle of Bruichalddich’s spectrum from unpeated to the unfathomably peated Octomore. Produced in tall, narrow necked spirit stills, the whisky is matured in a combination of first fill ex-bourbon casks, second fill bourbon casks and second fill French wine casks from Bordeaux.
How does it taste? On the nose, it has a meaty, barbecued aroma of Aussie proportions which calms into creamy vanilla. On the palate, it’s peaty yet more elegant and dainty than robust, thanks to the lack of medicinal notes other Islay peated whiskies sport. At the back, the barbecue finishes with everyone ‘round the campfire – in a burst of charred wood. A great neat sipper, but would also make a great Old Fashioned or Whisky Sour if one was so inclined. 50 percent abv.