Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012

Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Distillery Bottling 70cl / 50%

Port Charlotte Islay Barley, as the name implies, is an ongoing series of vintage expressions of Bruichladdich's heavily-peated Port Charlotte single malt whisky made entirely from barley sourced locally on the island of Islay.

This Port Charlotte Islay Barley is from the 2012 vintage and was aged for over 6 years before bottling at 50%. Smoke is prominent, of course, but there's also plenty of sweetness and fruit in the spirit and gentle cask influence.

Attributes

Tasting Notes

Nose: Initially a fresh linen and sandy sea breeze note stands out. Zesty lemon, a green fruit signature, apple sauce and crunchy pears follow. Floral geranium notes come through with sea pinks and gooseberry. then creamy coconut dipped
in chocolate opens up quickly with muddy peat smoke, burnt heather and peach skin. hints of vanilla and toasted malt. The aromas speak of the spirit, the distillation and the barley.

Palate: On the lips it’s soft and sweet, texturally there is a thin honey style that slips across the palate. Immediately there is more from the cask here, vanilla, milk chocolate and light cedar and black pepper. Warmed scones and honey from the malt wrapped in earthy smoke and soft apricot. Creamy, minty, tablet brings a sweetness and a warm salty sand hint of Islay.

Finish: The finish is coconut and peat smoke, mildly iodine-y and hints of almond and geranium. The peat smoke gently fades away.

Character: Wonderfully balanced to show the fruity style of the spirit on the nose and the delicate influence of the cask on the palate. The peat smoke weaves its way gently through the whisky highlighting the softer sweeter notes. This 2012 vintage has a freshness and balance that tells the story of the place to which it belongs.