A limited release from Islay's Bruichladdich distillery, it's an 18-year-old edition of its heavily peated Port Charlotte single malt. Distilled in 2005 from 100% Scottish barley, the whisky is a composition of 53% bourbon cask matured, 31% sherry cask matured, and a final 16% initially matured in sherry casks for 11 years, then finished for around five years in new French oak. It was then recasked into second-fill bourbon casks before all components were married for bottling at a satisfying 51.5% ABV, with a hearty phenol level of 40PPM.
Dried fruits are immediate on the nose, with the aroma of figs, sultanas and raisins mingling with sweet smoke and mellow oak. As the whisky breathes, charred oak, tobacco and earthy heather come to the fore, complimenting the delicate sweetness of caramel, toffee and date syrup.
Luxuriously smooth in texture, dark brown sugar, apricot jam and sweet heather honey coat the palate. This initial sweetness is punctuated by Port Charlotte’s signature peat smoke, with the subtle influence of toasted oak adding depth and complexity. The earthy, barbeque smoke adds a savoury element, beautifully balanced with rich crème brûlée, hazelnut and toasted coconut. A subtle minerality not only nods to the whisky’s all-Islay maturation but adds a hint of salt, cutting through the sweetness.
Wood spices, smoked leather and a subtle nutty salinity settle on the finish, while the inimitable whisper of Port Charlotte peat smoke lingers.
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The nose reveals clear peat smoke and iodine softened by white dessert wine, dried peach, date and toffee. On the palate, a smooth, oily mouthfeel carries caramelized black sugar and dried fruit into charcoal bitterness and crème brûlée with toasted nuts. The persistent finish marries honeyed fruit, smoky nuts and faint roasted coffee—a consummate smoky expression.
