Bruichladdich Port Charlotte SC:01 Sauternes Cask

Bruichladdich was built by Barnett Harvey in 1881. Five years later, the Bruichladdich Distillery Company was founded and renovation and refurbishment commenced. The "Laddie", as it is affectionately known, is often considered to be the fruitiest, most inventive Islay malt and, indeed, there has been some contention as to whether it has truly attained Islay-status. Bruichladdich countered this with the introduction of the Port Charlotte range and later with the 2008-released Octomore, the world's most heavily peated whisky with a phenol content of 131ppm. Then the distillery went almost the complete opposite direction and created The Botanist Gin!

The gentle character of the spirit is attributed by some to the milder weather conditions at Bruichladdich's locality, sheltered, as it is, from Mother Nature by the Rhinns, the rugged Islay mountain range. Following the death of the then owner, Barnett's son William Harvey IV in 1936, the distillery was run by Kenneth Harvey and sold a year later to Joseph Hobbs for the sum of £23,000. Silent for the latter part of the Second World War, Bruichladdich closed its in-house maltings in 1961, bringing malt in from the Islay maltings at Port Ellen. Enjoying good fortunes, further stills were added in 1975 to grapple increasing demand.

Blenders Whyte and Mackay acquired the distillery under Invergordon Distillers in 1993. Just two years later, production ceased and in 2000 the distillery was purchased by Murray McDavid for £6.5m. The former Bowmore manager, Jim McEwan was brought in as Production Director, and in July of 2001 distillation began once more. Today the range is vast; many cask finishes, or 'ACE'd (additional cask enhancement) whiskies, have been released as well as the formerly mentioned peated offerings and, following a few successful years, the "Laddie's" future looks promising.

SC:01 Sauternes Cask

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 the distillery. In a stunning display of Islay terroir, this locally grown barley is combined with an intricate cask recipe.

Malted to 40ppm by 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 re-casked 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 this peated single malt; the mellow, floral-style hints of gorse complement honeyed coconut and fudge before opening into the Port Charlotte BBQ peat smoke.

Tasting Notes

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.