We are a community committed to our island and to our radical principles of whisky making. This islay single malt is an expression with elegance and finesse, it is a unique whisky no one else could have made. We crafted it the only way we know how. The hard way, by gand, nose and eye on ancient, stubborn equipment. With passion and respect. With soul. We believe in barley, in its origins and its provenance. To us, barley is the essence of single malt whisky, a living expression of the land that nurtured it. To us, it is no mere commodity. In 2004, backing our drive for the ultimate “islay” Islay single malt, farmer Raymond Stewart grew barley for us at Kentraw, Just a mile from the Distillery. His harvest was then malted and distilled separately – we believe the first time ever an Islay single malt had been made exclusively from 100% Islay grown grain. This Port Charlotte dram was distilled in 2013 using barley from seven Islay farmers: Hunter Jackson at Cruach, Ian Mckerrell at Island farm, Raymond Fletcher at Dunlossit Estate, Donald and Andrew Jones atCcoull, Mark French at rockside, Alastair Torrance at Mulindry and Raymond Stewart at Sunderland. In all, we now have 19 Farmers who have made the commitment to grow for us and to whom we are equally committed. This Islay barley is who we are. This is where we’re from.
COLOUR
Pale Gorse flower
NOSE
The nose opens with delicate floral notes of lily and geranium before warm orange zest, and dried earthy peat smoke brings body and gravity. Banoffee pie and digestive biscuit come out from behind the peat smoke and carry forward this dram’s malty, fruity character.Cherry coconut and malted barley jostle with apricot and melon. The nose is so enticing; The sweetness of the oak and the outstanding rubbery, peppery phenolic notes are balanced perfectly with the fruit and floral style of our slow, careful fermentation and distillation.
PALATE
The first taste is a wondrous thing; all at once, the salinity, the fruit, the light peat smoke, and the sweet oak show their presence in a whirl of complexity and entice you in to go again. There is great texture from the spirit, and its time resting in carefully selected oak allows a subtle almond note to combine with coconut, caramel, vanilla, And muscovado sugar. The peat smoke in this whisky is as beautifully balanced as ever, weaving through the components, highlighting them but not dominating. A dram that is gentle on the palate yet has a tremendous depth of flavour.
FINISH
The finish again shows the balance we are looking for. The smoke, fruit, oak and floral notes melt into each other, and a beautiful creamy texture allows melon, peach and cherry to come through before dwindling into the dry embers of peat in the hearth. CHARACTER Islay grown barley brings so much complexity to the character in this whisky. The peat smoke in this Port Charlotte is, as ever, beautifully evocative of that traditional islay style. Purity from the distillation and complexity of maturation brings all the components together with harmony and balance.
