The complexity of this Port Charlotte SC:01 2012 pushes the outermost limits of Islay single malt as you know it. Combining our distillery’s two greatest obsessions, it is impeccable provenance meets high quality french oak. For the first time in our cask exploration series, this release contains 100% Islay grown barley. The 2011 harvest was raised by seven of our farming partners, all within 10 miles of our distillery. Malted to 40ppm by our maltsters on the scottish mainland, it would return home to be distilled through tall narrow-necked stills, for ultimate elegance and finesse. This 2012 vintage would take three separate paths in its maturation journey. A combination of sherry butts and first & second fill american whiskey barrels were recasked at different points of maturation into some of the finest sauternes wine casks from the left bank of the Garonne river in Bordeaux. This complex recipe culminates in a classic example of our peated single malt; the mellow, floral-style hints of gorse compliment honeyed coconut and fudge before opening into the port charlotte bbq peat smoke. In a stunning display of Islay terroir, our locally grown barley combines with a stunningly intricate cask recipe. This SC:01 2012 vintage has been conceived, grown, distilled, matured and bottled only on islay.
COLOUR
Marmalade
NOSE
Sweet, stoned fruit and a delicate floral perfume on the nose. Hints of smoke come with time. Initially peaches in syrup, dried apricots, honeyed melon and ripe pineapple. Brown sugar, vanilla-fudge, caramel and marzipan. Heady notes of honeysuckle and heather weave through the sweet ripe fruit notes. Peat smoke and warm toasted oak come through with a little time to bring depth and complexity to the dram. PALATE On the palate the warmth and supple texture of this dram elegantly grace the palate and bring together a balance of light peat smoke and ripe fruit. Another sip confirms both the beautiful viscosity and depth of flavour as beneath the delicate smoke comes earthy notes of leather and boot polish. The oak brings strength and sweet vanilla, chocolate and citrus to compliment the waves of fruit from the spirit.
FINISH
A dram you wish would last forever, the wonderful marine minerality and earthy peat smoke linger on the palate with a citrus tang.
CHARACTER
Watching and developing this whisky over the years has been a joy, the influence of the sauternes casks and the quality of the oak together with the elegance of the port charlotte spirit is a match made in heaven. The sweet fruit and delicate peat smoke combination once again results in a classic port charlotte expression sure to live long in the memory.
