Nose - Clean crisp smoke, sweet cream, candied cranberries, bit mineraly, mint? (w/ water) Bit brighter, but mostly the same Taste - Little hot, salty peat smoke, fresh red berries, hint of red wine vinegar, earth, dark chocolate, leather (w/ water) salt increased, more vibrant/bright, less earth, dark chocolate, leather Finish - Black pepper, earth, salt, woody herb/fruit stems (w/ water) same Score - 83/100 Final Thoughts - This was overall a decent Port Charlotte offering. The wine cask finish gave it another layer to just an ex-bourbon cask maturation, but it felt a bit hot at times and water improved some things, but hurt others. I did like the dark earthy, dark chocolate notes I got without water, but it felt a bit hot without. It had a very artificial sugar/rock candy sweetness that I'm not always the biggest fan of. It's good, not amazing, but not off putting in any way. Would I drink it if offered? - Yes Would I specifically order it? - Maybe Would I buy a bottle? - No NOTE - All reviews are done without factoring in price.
About this bottle
This heavily-peated single malt was made with 100% Scottish Concerto barley from two separate distillates distilled in November 2011. The first distillate was matured a minimum of 6 years in first-fill American whiskey casks and then 2 years in ex-Bordeaux red wine casks from the Pauillac region. The other distillate also aged in first-fill American whiskey casks, but for 7 years. Then it spent its remaining time in 2nd-fill Bordeaux red wine casks from the Pauillac region. Available as of May 2021.
How it tastes
Measured across 14 flavor axes. Tap a note to find other bottles that lead with it.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 11 parsed reviews.
(Good Spirits Co. Glasgow – Virtual Whisky Tasting, 07 May 2021). Nose: Oak, peat, TCP/medicinal, chocolate, caramelised brown sugar, vanilla Palate: Berries, sweet red fruit, oak, vanilla, peat smoke, citrus, dried figs/dates Finish: Medium long finish. Coconut, salt, earthy. Slightly drying. Very sweet aftertaste This is a lovely, sweet, smoky dram. BBQ & wood smoke, with a very light, smooth overall sensation. Very easy to drink for such a heavily peated dram. 2 parcels of spirits distilled in November 2011: Parcel 1: 6yrs in 1st fill ex-American Whiskey Casks, then 2yrs in 1st fill casks which had previously held red wine from the Pauillac region in France. Parcel 2: 7yrs maturation in 1st fill ex-American Whiskey Casks, then 2nd fill casks which had previously held red wine from the Pauillac region in France. Came third out of the six drams, with 7% of the final vote for favourite of the night. 57% of those present said they enjoyed the whisky.
After tasting the MRC 01, this seems to be better integrated. Open less than a week. Aggressive peat, a little hot, bbq meats, tropical fruits, honey, vanilla and restrained red fruit, medium length, spicy finish. Liked it better with a splash of water.
Tasting this vs standard, islay barley and olc, each of which i like, olc the most. This one might need to open up, but the wine notes are faint and a metallic note is pretty prominent. Like it the least of the 4. The nougat note is very off putting
Nose: Dried fruit, sunkist fruit gems, smoke, char, saline and malt. Palate: Butterscotch, smoke, fruit, char, saline and some floral hints. Finish: Long -> Smoke, camphor and citric acid.
Nose: Peat smoke, dried fruits Palate: Fruitcake, peat smoke, hint of Maltesers Finish: Dried fruits, spices, cloves This is really delicious but not quite as good as the OLC:01 8.5/10
5 more reviews were collected for this bottle. The longest ones are shown first.
Tastes like this
Closest flavor profiles across the whole catalog.
