Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013

Our Port Charlotte Islay Barley expressions are a direct embodiment of everything an Islay whisky can and should be. Conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on the island, with barley raised on our home shores by seven of our farming partners.

Islay grown barley brings so much complexity to the character in this whisky. The peat smoke in this Port Charlotte is, as ever, beautifully evocative of that traditional Islay style. Purity from the distillation and complexity of maturation brings all the components together with harmony and balance.

TASTING NOTES

NOSE

The nose opens with delicate floral notes of lily and geranium before warm orange zest and dried earthy peat smoke brings body and gravity. Banoffee pie and digestive biscuit come out from behind the peat smoke and carry forward this dram’s malty, fruity character. Cherry coconut and malted barley counterbalance apricot and melon. Sweet and enticing; the oak and the outstanding peppery phenolic notes are balanced perfectly with the fruit and floral style of our slow, careful fermentation and distillation.

PALATE

The first taste is a wondrous thing; all at once the salinity, ripe fruit, light peat smoke, and sweet oak show their presence in a whirl of complexity. There is great texture from the spirit and its maturation allows a subtle almond note to combine with coconut, caramel, vanilla, and muscovado sugar. The peat smoke is beautifully balanced. It is a dram that is gentle on the palate yet has a tremendous depth of flavour.

FINISH

The finish is once more perfectly balanced. The smoke, fruit, oak and floral notes melt into each other, and a beautiful creamy texture allows melon, peach and cherry to come through before dwindling into the dry embers of peat in the hearth.

SUSTAINABILITY

We are working to reduce the impact of our operations and become more environmental in our actions, all with a heightened sensitivity to growing within our island home.

We must ensure our impact is positive, and that we continue to improve the quality of life for our planet and our people. Only with a clear vision, holistic approach and a solid foundation, will future generations be inspired to take over as custodians.

Since our renaissance in 2001, Islay has been at the very heart of our decision making. We have a strong sense of responsibility to our island and the people who live here. To us, this means spreading the economic benefit of the whisky industry into our community, whether that’s directly through our employment, or indirectly through our opportunities in farming, haulage, hospitality or construction.

Focusing on our people, our growing partners, volunteering and local projects, we will continue to develop our Islay-centricity. Indeed, our next major project will allow us to complete a proportion of annual production through an ‘all-Islay’ outfit.

Energy: As part of our program to reduce our carbon footprint, we've installed a circulatory heating system to recycle our hot wastewater and have switched to 100% renewable energy, sourced within the UK. Ultimately, our ambition is to decarbonise distillation by 2025.

Agriculture: We will continue our research into sustainable agriculture, exploring the models necessary to make our plans viable. We will be traceable and transparent and continue our progressive approach to growing and buying barley.