Port Charlotte Heavily Peated Islay Barley, 50% abv.

Perhaps the first heavily peated Islay malt using 100% Islay grown barley from farms at Coull, Kynagarry, Island, Rockside, Starchmill, and Sunderland. Peated to 40 ppm and matured in ex-Bourbon casks for about 6 years. Supposedly the grain was harvested in September 2008, then peated and distilled in December 2008, and then bottled December 2015.

Nose: initially peaty and that new car smell, some tar in there, old bandages, slightly medicinal but in a bad way. A few drops of water didn't change the nose. A sweet chcolate vanilla comes up in my final nosing?

Palate: peat, smoke, light wood. With time the spice comes out. A few drops of water emphasizes the peat, as if it were dried.

Finish: moderate, peaty, smoke, new car smell and old bandages. Very similar to the nose, but weaker. A few drops of water makes the finish stronger where the peaty elements and spice are more prominent, but not overwhelming.

Dry glass: strong wax and red apples.

Surprisingly no abv burn effects even though it's 100 proof. I could taste and experience the peat from start to finish. Sweet fruity aspects come up here and there in the aromas and its a little confusing and definitely unbalanced. Its not bad, just not impressive.

Grade: C+

Whiskyanalysis.com, 8.78 ± 0.23 on 5 reviews
Whiskyfun.com, Serge Valentin, sgp:457, 88 points
Thewhiskeyjug, Josh Peters, 88/100
Whiskynotes, Ruben Luyten, 85/100

Image courtesy of Eric Yee.

Eric Yee

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