New Arrivals
![]() Port Charlotte / MRC: 01 2010. £84.50 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 59.2%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Bruichladdich. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Heavily Peated. DISTILLED: 2010 BOTTLED: 2018 STATED AGE: 7 years old. CASK TYPE: Ex-wine casks from Bordeaux Mouton Rothschild. NUMBER OF BOTTLES: 8000 STRENGTH: 59.2% Vol. With over 200 different cask types maturing in their warehouses, the cask exploration series showcases the influence of wood on heavily peated spirit. Bottled at 59.2% alcohol and in limited numbers, we introduce the Port Charlotte MRC:01 2010. Distilled from 100% Scottish barley, from the Invernesshire region, this sweet and fruity spirit has spent time in first fill American whiskey casks and second fill French wine casks. These component parts have been combined and matured for an extra year in the finest French oak from the Bordeaux left bank. NOSE: Initially you are met with a summer fruit and peat smoke extravaganza! Raspberry and cherry, with Turkish delight and smoky driftwood embers burst from the glass jostling for attention. There is a distinctly summer feel to this dram, no brooding peat monster it has a light, bright and fruity air. As the whisky opens you find the Islay sea breeze, ozone and salty. The oak, both American and French give real depth to the dram, classic vanilla, toasted bread, chocolate, roasted coffee beans, liquorice walnut and almond. Each time you go back to the glass there seems to be a bubble of red berry and ripe plum bursting under your nose. PALATE: Certainly warming at 59.2%, lively and sweet with icing sugar and marshmallow, bound in smoke. There is a rush to capture all that is taking place. Sweet red fruit and peat smoke melt away slightly as the power of the oak comes through with tobacco leaf and toasted oak. Maple syrup, pecan and coffee are complimented by hints of orange and cooked peach. There is a complexity here that didn’t seem possible on the first sip. As you go back to the glass that initial rush of flavour has become a more complete experience. Now there is salt spray, dry smoke and the oak is more prominent, raspberry and plum combine with vanilla and butterscotch. FINISH: On the finish the peat smoke is a little more medicinal than normal, think bandages and creosote. A dryness from the oak tells of the toasting of the French and the char of the American and the final combination in premium French oak together. The influence of the extra maturation in sumptuous first growth casks has added a layer of fruit that weaves its way through the smoke and into the heart of the whisky. The spirit is viscous and textured allowing a long finish where creamy vanilla, spicy clove and ripe peach melt away from the powerful peat smoke allowing it to finish alone, leaving the Port Charlotte DNA firmly in place. CHARACTER: Lively, sunny, rosy, a wonderful experience and superb combination of fruit laden French oak, strong peat smoke and Islay maturation. |
![]() Bruichladdich / 2006Â Burgundy Cask# 14/006/14. £105.00 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 63.3%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Bruichladdich. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Laddie Crew. VINTAGE: 2006 BOTTLED: 2018 NUMBER OF BOTTLES: STRENGTH: 63.3% Vol. |
![]() Bruichladdich / Islay Barley (2011). £50.00 Country: Scotland Region: Islay Age: Strength: 50%. Summary: COUNTRY/REGION: Scotland/Islay. CATEGORY: Single Malt. DISTILLERY: Bruichladdich. BOTTLER: Distillery Bottling. BOTTLING SERIE: Coull, Cruach, Island, Mulindry, Rockside and Starchmill VINTAGE: BOTTLED: 2018 CASK TYPE: . STRENGTH: 50% Vol. The Islay barley series has always been a mission. For many years now they have sought to showcase the phenomenon of “terroir” in single malt whisky – the belief that soil, climate, micro-climate, geographic orientation, natural influences and local weather systems will influence the quality and flavour profile of the spirit, making it a unique expression of ‘place’. Bruichladdich Islay barley 2011 is distilled from barley grown on six western and central Islay farms in 2010. CHARACTER: A sweet spot in the maturation of an incredible whisky. A chance to see the elements at work as the young spirit showing green fruits, apple, pear and gooseberry transitions to peach, apricot and mango with the influence of time. The careful selection of casks holds this moment perfectly in balance as their contribution to the ageing of the spirit brings oak depth, vanilla and coconut sweetness and lemon/grapefruit zest without overpowering the sweetness of the malt or the profound cereal notes that come from the Islay grown barley. The structure is firm, the texture luxurious, carrying the DNA of this island. COLOUR: Fresh Cut Straw. NOSE: From the outset this is overtly floral and fruity. Slow distillation yet again brings out the best from the Islay grown Barley, the abundance of soft fruit notes and delicate floral style of this dram is shared with our past Islay grown releases. Typical Bruichladdich style fruit notes of crisp apple and ripe pear along with peach and dried apricot are further enhanced with lemon drops, grapefruit and orange zest. There is a vast array of flavour rising from this whisky as it opens further. The oak and cereal components come through after the fruit, pipe tobacco and vanilla notes mingle with barley sugar and caramel wafers, as ever a distinct marine tang hangs in the air. FINISH: The finish is about the fruit, dried apricot from the oak and lemon, kiwi and caramel wafer. A warm sand, marine note lingers as the Islay maturation tells its part of the story. As this whisky lingers on the palate it puts you in mind of the construction and structure to its form. Each element, distillation, time, cask and barley have a clear influence yet not one dominates another as this whisky reaches a crossroads in its development. This vintage is at the perfect stage to appreciate all that it is as it lays bare its DNA, its philosophy and its quality. |





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