About
Bruichladdich's Port Charlotte demonstrates how Islay distilleries can interpret peat in distinctly different ways. Introduced in 2018, this heavily peated single malt quickly became a cult favourite among whisky enthusiasts. Matured for ten years in American oak and ex-wine casks at a robust 50% ABV, it delivers a compelling interplay between intense smokiness and surprising layers of sweetness. The nose reveals complex peat smoke intertwined with salty sea air, complemented by unexpected notes of custard cream and subtle florals. On the palate, the oily texture carries forward with ashy, sooty character, yet reveals milk chocolate, ginger snap spice, and hints of vanilla beneath the smoke. The finish is dry and peppery, with lingering peat that gradually fades. This is a whisky that rewards contemplation, showcasing the distillery's commitment to unconventional flavour profiles and meticulous craftsmanship.
Flavour Profile
Review (2)
This Port Charlotte 10 has been open at my place for a while now. The sharp smoke has integrated into the aroma. I find the first sip sharp, spicy and I clearly smell and taste the Bruichladdich in it. Super personal, but I'm not that fond of Bruichladdich. It has a sweet cheese association for me, and I don't like cheesiness. Somewhere I think of tiramisu, sweetness with fatty mascarpone. I put my Kilchoman Loch Gorm next to it for comparison. The Port Charlotte is sweet, oily, smoky. I have a pellet stove, and at the bottom of the outside chimney there's a screw cap, from which a lovely sweet ash-oil often comes after opening it. I smell that here too. Wood-based oil after combustion. The Kilchoman is grassy, salty, but without that sharpness, but with an extraordinarily subtle integrated sugary sweetness that keeps it in balance. The Port C pulls itself together again into a beautiful unity, with an Islay freshness, sharper and more bitter on the finish. It's a rougher Islay version than Kilchoman. Also salty on the finish, more sea air. The PChrlt is extroverted, bold, gives a kick. The smoke is now lovely with the salty sweetness. But the Kilchoman is softer, equally anecdotal: Port Charlotte: wow, quite a fatty whisky, stormy, salty sweet, sharp edges, fatty smoke. Kilchoman, the inner harbor in sunny weather, with fishing boats bobbing on the gentle swell, a bit of oil from the engines on the water surface, with sandy mineral saltiness of old ship's ropes. (And then sweet) Which is favorite: they reinforce each other by emphasizing the differences, Port Charlotte has fought its way back. Both high quality, beautifully balanced, for me the Kilchoman has a bit more depth through its restraint. Taste and preference at this level is completely subjective.
A very surprising dram for this price range. A happy change of pace from the other, more traditional Islay whiskies. An Islay for a summer evening. Would recommend for anyone that has had their fill of Islay whiskies and loves the peat but wants something new and different