Distillery: Port Charlottle
District: Islay
Bottler: Scotch Malt Whisky Society (#127.42)
Bottled: 2014
Age: 12 years old
Cask type: Refill ex-bourbon
Strength: 63.0% abv

I tasted this whisky at the SMWS Leith venue in March at a Sausage Beer and Whisky Tasting. This was the last dram of the night and had a very tough act to follow a 27 year old single cask Highland Park that was in itself such an incredible dram. I cannot put into words how good this whisky was. I tried on the night and failed miserably and managed to tweet heaven in a glass or something along those lines!

Colour: Whisky
Nose: I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a hint of peat. This is a full on ashy peat monster. Behind the smoke is a strong medicinal note almost like germolene. Once you get past the smoke and medical there is a sweetness and a saltiness from a refill bourbon barrel stored in a seaside warehouse.
Palate: initially, there’s an intense sharpness and spiciness, with a strong medicinal edge. This is complimented by a citrusy edge. What comes next is quite unexpected but very pleasurable. Walkers Smokey Bacon crisp. I kid you not. Pair this with a Bavarian smoke beer and it is sheer bliss!
Finish: This finish lasts and is so rich with honey and caramel from the oak. There’s an earthiness to it, all the while the peat just keeps giving.
Verdict: This is undoubtedly one of the finest PC’s I’ve ever tasted and one of the best whiskies to come off of Islay. It’s not as full on as an Octomore, but it’s definitely one for serious peat lovers. I could drink this all day every day for the rest of time. It is that good. I would rank this in my top 3 whiskies of all time so far, that’s how highly I rate this!

Rating: Sold out

Tasted on 23 March 2015 by Stuart