Combining our distillery’s two greatest obsessions, Port Charlotte SC:01 marries impeccable provenance with high-quality French oak. For the first time in our cask exploration series, this release contains 100% Islay grown barley.
This SC: 01 2012 vintage has been conceived, grown, distilled, matured and bottled only on Islay. The 2011 harvest was raised by seven of our farming partners, all within 10 miles of our distillery. In a stunning display of Islay terroir, this locally grown barley is combined with an intricate cask recipe.
Malted to 40ppm by our maltsters on the Scottish mainland, it is returned home to be distilled through tall narrow-necked stills for ultimate elegance and finesse, before taking three separate paths in its maturation journey.
A combination of sherry butts and first and 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.
The result is a complex recipe which culminates in a classic example of our peated single malt; the mellow, floral-style hints of gorse complement honeyed coconut and fudge before opening into the Port Charlotte BBQ peat smoke.
Port Charlottle SC:01 is the fifth release in our Cask Exploration Series and the first to use 100% Islay grown barley. Following previous releases MRC:01, MC:01, OLC:01 and PAC:01, the complexity of this single malt pushes the outermost limits of Islay single malt as you know it.
BARLEY PROVENANCE: 100% Islay grown Concerto, Propino, Publican and Oxbridge varieties
MALTING: Heavily Peated
DISTILLATION: Distilled in 2012
AGE: 9 Aged Years
MATURATION PROFILE: Parcel one: Sherry butts re-casked into first fill Sauternes casks; Parcel two: Second fill American whiskey barrels re-casked into second-fill Sauternes casks; Parcel three: A combination of first and second fill American whiskey barrels re-casked into first fill Sauternes casks.
PHENOL LEVEL: 40 parts per million (PPM)
STRENGTH: 55.2% ABV
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 result in a classic Port Charlotte expression sure to live long in the memory.
Colour
Marmalade
Nose
Sweet, stone fruit and a delicate floral perfume on the nose with hints of peaches in syrup, dried apricots, honeyed melon and ripe pineapple. Brown sugar, vanilla-fudge, caramel and marzipan are followed by heady notes of honeysuckle and heather. Peat smoke and warm toasted oak come through with a little time to bring depth and complexity to the dram.
Palate
The warmth and supple texture of this dram elegantly coats the palate and brings 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 complement the waves of fruit.
Finish
A dram you wish would last forever, the wonderful marine notes and earthy peat smoke linger on the palate with a citrus tang.
