Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012

Could this be a young Octomore? Nose - Peat and sweetness barely lead the aroma. There are hints of youth, but the overall character strongly resembles an Octomore, with a bit more tartness and a slightly less refined alcohol presence. Perhaps a different distillation cut? Taste - The initial sensation is pure smoke, followed by rich sweet malt, and then dark, burnt earth emerges forcefully. Sweet smoked light and savory meat transitions to burnt beef brisket, all propelled by sweet malt. Exceptionally good. The alcohol content is a tad higher than ideal, feeling slightly sharp. This is a wonderfully, perfectly balanced young heavily peated whisky. Priced around 80 dollars and it surpasses the 10-year-old. Will I make buying it a regular practice? My first reaction upon pouring it was, YES! However, the more I revisit it, the more I unfortunately find myself drinking a good whisky, but there isn't enough depth for me to rush out and spend 80. I'd rather accumulate funds for an Octomore or opt for something aged longer. I'm seeking some fruitiness or an element to complement the malt and smoke profile. This is where I hold Ardbeg 10 in high regard; its citrusy notes provide a necessary layer of depth and complexity (though I know some disagree). In any case, I'm giving this a solid 2.5. It's clearly above average whisky, but the absence of something more is causing it to drop in my rankings. Curiously, I recently moved Port Charlotte 10 down my list of excellent affordable peated whiskies as well, because, well, high alcohol content alone shouldn't dictate whisky rankings when there's more to consider.

The reason I rated this 3.75, according to my scale, is that I believe it's the most accessible peated whisky I've sampled. It's not weakly peated like some coastal Highland or phenol-forward Campbeltown scotches; it's direct at 40ppm (less than Ardbeg, Lagavulin, or Laphroaig). Light lemon cake batter and toasted peanuts... with a whiff of earthy, peppery barbecue. After a couple of glasses, a rich, velvety texture becomes noticeable. It's not excessively ashy, briny, or smoky; it's genuinely smooth, partly due to the 50% ABV, which provides good adhesion to the taste buds... The price is a bit steep for a young, approachable whisky, but at least it's 50% ABV. If you want to persuade someone who doesn't typically enjoy smoky Scotch about the wonders of Islay peated malt, this will make a strong argument. 5.0 - Go buy every bottle you can find. 4.0 - Must purchase at least one bottle before you pass away. 3.0 - Solid, definitely try it at a bar or get someone else to share theirs. 2.0 - I didn't enjoy it; you might. 1.0 - You might have the palate of my dog, and he licks his own rear end.

Open Date = 4-24-2021 Tasting Date = 6-27-2021 Weeks open = 10 weeks Tasting proof = 100 Bottle Fill Level = Quarter bottle. Rating system: 5 = outstanding; 4.5 = excellent; 4 = very good; 3.5 = good; 3 = above average; 2.5 = average; 2 = acceptable; 1.5 = adequate; 1 = inferior; 0.5 = very poor; 0 = undrinkable You might get what you pay for, but you never get what you don't pay for...........Cheers

This spirit is like a less intense version of Octomore 10.3, sharing the same concept but lacking its power. The peat has a glossy petrol quality rather than being marshy or medicinal. The nose also has briny buttered popcorn notes, and the palate has caramel and cotton flavors. While the combination might suggest kettle corn, it doesn't taste that way. A pleasant mid-length finish completes a satisfying dram at a reasonable price.

Grassy, perhaps a little floral, and smoky peat on the nose. The malt flavor complements the smoke rather than being overshadowed. The taste starts with peppery and meaty smoke, fading into a sweet malt at the end. It's reminiscent of Talisker 10 but without the saltiness. Very good. It possesses the character of a heavily peated spirit without being harsh.

Aroma presents an intense surge of sweetness that envelops the peaty, smoky, earthy notes, evolving into a "smoked custard" character as it rests; Palate is warm and fruity, with an even more pronounced smoke and saline quality; Finish is a subdued echo of the palate, gradually dissipating. This is truly delicious whisky.