Port Charlotte Scottish Barley

This is the third part of the Wee Laddie tasting collection. The third and final whisky in the Bruichladdich tasting set is the Port Charlotte Islay Barley. For those unfamiliar with Bruichladdich, let me explain. The Bruichladdich distillery produces three distinct lines of scotch whisky. Anything labeled simply Bruichladdich is unpeated, Port Charlotte is heavily peated, and Octomore (not included here) is intensely peated. Think of it like Ford Motor Company around the year 2000. They had three brands, all manufactured by Ford. Bruichladdich would be Ford, Port Charlotte would be Mercury, and Octomore would be Lincoln. But I'm getting sidetracked. So, back to the whisky. This Port Charlotte has a peat level of 40ppm, is bottled at 50% ABV, and is non-chill filtered with a natural yellow-gold color. Sweet, peaty, and sweet peat on the nose. Lemon citrus, almonds, and almond butter. A significant hit of smoky, vinegary BBQ sauce, BBQ ribs, and smoked fish, primarily salmon. Quite salty, with sea air and green olives. A bit medicinal with iodine, but not nearly as much as Laphroaig. Vanilla, grilled apricots, and nectarines, with a definite sweetness beneath all the smoke. Barley sugar, yellow apples, fruit/spice cake, butterscotch, and toffee. A slight minerality and some sawdust. Floral notes with dry grass and a hint of red wine. So far, this has the best aroma of the three. The palate is strong and peppery, with a youthful character. Peaty, smoky, ashy, with charred oak reminiscent of a bonfire doused in seawater and damp earth. Slightly fruity – mainly apricots with some light lemon. At times, it has heat but isn't overly complex, dominated by those peaty notes. Green oak, medicinal qualities, and barley sugar. Caramelized/burnt sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and graham crackers. A medium to full-bodied mouthfeel that is creamy, mouthwatering, and coating. The finish is long, peaty, ashy, slightly fruity (mostly lemon), and dry. I believe this one surpassed the Classic Laddie for the top spot in the tasting set. While it might not be quite as nuanced, particularly on the palate, the peat provides a much-needed contrast to the overly malty character of both the Laddie and the Islay Barley. Nevertheless, if I were choosing, I'd opt for a Laphroaig or Ardbeg for heavy peat. A solid 4, though. Cheers

Nose - Faintly smoky aroma with a hint of salt, creamy sweetness, cracked black pepper, and a whisper of lemon peel Taste - Mild smoky notes, cracked pepper, salt, sweet lactic quality, a gentle smoky sensation just before swallowing, and lemon zest Finish - A surge of salty, smoky sweetness immediately after swallowing, followed by cracked black pepper and lemon zest Score - 82/100 Final Thoughts - Despite claims of heavy peat, this expression is quite gentle. The peat is noticeable but enhances the lactic sweetness typical of Bruichladdich. It presents more as clean, mild smoke or ash rather than intense meaty or campfire smoke found in other peated whiskies. This is a straightforward and easily sippable dram. It's not the most complex, but it's a classic Bruichladdich profile with a touch of smoke/ash. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Possibly Would I buy a bottle? - Possibly NOTE - All evaluations are made without considering the price.

Having recently enjoyed their Classic Laddie, I was certain that any peated offering from Bruichladdich would be a hit for me. The aroma presents the anticipated scents of tarry rope, cereal, brine, and subtle citrus notes. Allow it some air, however, and more hints of pepper and dark chocolate emerge. The palate is remarkably vibrant, beginning with a tiny bit of sweetness before launching into a malt-forward experience. The flavor is so prominent that it feels like you're practically chewing the malt, which is a positive aspect. Rich, earthy peat follows, with more salt and pepper to conclude. The finish offers some warmth from the high proof, with wood tannins becoming apparent beyond the persistent smoke. It's of moderate length and slightly thin, but this is forgivable given how delightful the sip was. This doesn't possess the cured meat or iodine characteristics common in some Islays; it's more of a clean, barley-forward smoky spirit, and it definitely warrants a place on your shelf.

Familiar with the Bruichladdich Port Charlotte line, but last had this when Jim McEwan was still involved, so it's been quite a while. The aroma presents ash and peat as expected, along with honey and green apple – a fresh, clean scent. The initial taste is very hot, followed by honey and peat. Adding a little water enhances it nicely, letting the clean peat and honey really stand out, with notes of caramelized sugar, vanilla apple, and some pepper. The finish is long, typical of peated whiskies, with smoke, sea salt, vanilla, and pepper. This bottling is just like the older ones I recall, which is a positive. Haven't tried the PC Islay Barley or PC 10 yet, but plan to soon. Overall, a very good peated Islay whisky. Grade: B

Okay, I disliked the Bruichladdich Classic Laddie. This is entirely different. It's not as intensely peated as other heavily peated spirits and is very enjoyable on the palate. Bottled at 50% ABV. The nose has peat, but it's not overwhelming. It's quite peated, with notes of grapes, burnt cake topping, plum, heather, and a 'shoe box' scent. Nice. Intriguing. The palate starts sweet with orange, toffee, and coffee, then reveals a peppery spice explosion, with earthy, heather-like peat. The aftertaste is long, salty, and sulfuric. It brings to mind gunpowder and spent fireworks. Fantastic. Overall, I initially rated this a 91, but I feel that's too high. A score of 89 out of 100 is appropriate to keep it at a 4.0.

The nose is somewhat sharp but full of sweet fruit, honey, and sugary cereal. Perhaps a hint of lemon, then a wisp of smoke and a good amount of salty peat. The palate is youthful and spicy with vanilla, honey, and light or sweet apple. The peat is more pronounced on the palate for me than the nose, and it also carries some saltiness and bitterness. It coats the mouth very well, making me take smaller sips just to savor that sensation. The finish has smoke, peat, char, and then some sweet sugar. This is a solid scotch, but it didn't quite meet my hopes. With some age to mellow the sharpness on the nose and the bitterness on the finish, it would be exceptional.