Port Charlotte MC:01 2009

Nose - Gentle peppery smoke, sea spray, sweet nuts, sweet cream, apricots, light fleshed stone fruits, salted caramel, lightly floral (w/ water) Slightly less fruity & floral, more salted caramel Taste - Gentle peppery smoke, salted caramel, peppery heat, sea spray, dried apricots but w/o the intense sweetness, light bitter stone pith (w/ water) Reduced heat, bitterness is greatly reduced, otherwise the same Finish - Lingering fruity salted caramels, bitterness intensifies, sea spray and black peppered cheese (w/ water) Less bitter but otherwise the same Score - 87/100 Final Thoughts - The nose on this one is the best part for sure as it screams classic sweet peat and lactic funk to me. The marsala cask influence has tons of great stone fruits and salted caramel influence, but somehow the bitter component gets a bit distracting. It also feels a tad bit hot for the proof. Not completely distracting, but enough for you to feel it and want to add a bit of water. Water does help the peppery burn a bit, but also mutes the nose quite a bit. This one is pretty good overall, but I don't think I'd turn down a pour of this if offered. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Yes Would I buy a bottle? - Not another NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.

Nose: sweet like a ripe fruit. Maybe peaches and cream. There is a whiff of tabacco, this is heavily peated after all. Palate: big juicy cherry, with a dash of toffee. The peat flows along the whole time at a pleasant pace. Finish: sweet and peaty. Long finish that sticks in the back of your throat. Overall: perfect dram.

Nose: Toasted malt, clove, vanilla, smoke Palate: Oaky vanilla, cooked pear, cinnamon Finish: Salted butter, baked apple, hint of pepper, clove This has a bit of funkiness on the palate that I usually only get from unpeated Bruichladdich whiskies. It adds a different edge to this and I really like it. 8/10

Open Date = 10-1-2020 Tasting Date = 5-19-2021 Weeks open = 32 weeks Tasting proof = 112.6 Bottle Fill Level = Last 1 ounce saved in 6cl sample bottle Still absolutely delicious and I will compare this "Cask Exploration Series" to my first bottle of Octomore when I open. Truly great peated whisky!

citrus, pear, fruity, high pep, smokey (light camp fire), thick complexity 2.5 thickness complexity, wood, citrus zinc, dense, sharp sourness, thick campfire 3 long sustian smoke 3

Strange dram, sometimes the marsala is in your face, sometimes hardly detectable. Adding water makes it more salty. And you can almost eat it.