Port Charlotte OLC:01 2010

Review by: The Muskox

This is also my 50th Bruichladdich review! I’ve had by far more Bruichladdich than any other distillery – my next most reviewed distillery is Arran (surprise surprise) with 32 reviews. I haven’t had a Port Charlotte in ages for some reason, so I was very excited to get this sample in. Even more exciting was learning that this whisky was matured in “genuine” bodega Oloroso casks, rather than the sherry-seasoned casks that everyone uses.

Distillery: Bruichladdich.

Bottler: Official bottling.

Region: Islay.

ABV: 55.1%, cask strength.

Age: 9 years old. Distilled in 2010. Bottled in February 2020.

Cask type: Initially matured in a combination of first- and second-fill bourbon, second-fill Syrah, and various VDN (‘vin doux naturel’) casks, then transferred in 2018 to “genuine” Oloroso hogsheads for an 18 month finish.

Color: Dark gold. No colour added, un-chillfiltered.

Nose: Very rich. Sweet and savoury – bacon-wrapped grilled figs, seared steak, sauteed onions, and grilled fennel. Interesting herb note – thyme? Red apples and blood oranges. Candied nuts, apple pie, and maple syrup. Red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Campfire logs dusted with cocoa powder. Nori and black sesame seeds. Slightly farmy.

Palate: Thick texture. Arrives malty and bacony, along with chocolate and cherries. Quickly turns to rich peat smoke: a bit farmy, a bit lactic, and a bit medicinal, with some seaweed and iodine. Lots of savoury caramelized flavours – a whole baking tray full of vegetables sitting under the broiler. Creamy caramel, roasted nuts, and spun sugar. Some winey tannins. Chipotle… Salsa? It’s got that savoury-vegetal-fruity-fresh kind of character.

Finish: Fairly long, and quite smoky. Sooty and beefy, with tobacco coming in too. Raspberry jam and grapefruit zest. Waxy Hannukah gelt chocolate. Lingering wine, vanilla, roast nuts, and malty sweetness.

Possible SMWS bottling name: “BOOF Bourguignon”

Notes: A classic Port Charlotte, with a great melding of wine and peat. It’s interesting that the Oloroso doesn’t seem all that different from the various wine-cask Port Charlottes I’ve had, though it’s definitely added a nutty note. That’s actually taken it closer in profile to my favourite Octomores. It took three pours of this for it to really come around, but I’m glad it has.

Final Score: 87.

Scoring Legend:

  • 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky.
  • 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category.
  • 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram.
  • 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff.
  • 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting.
  • 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better.
  • 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink.
  • 50-59: Save it for mixing.
  • 0-49: Blech.

Leave a comment