Port Charlotte 15 Year 2004, Whiskybroker
Whisky : Port Charlotte 15 Year 2004, Whiskybroker
Country/Region : Scotland/Islay
ABV : 53.9%
Cask : Ex-Sherry Butt
Age : 15 Years (Distilled 9 July 2004, Bottled 31 Oct. 2019)
Nose : Funky, earthy, meaty, and subtly sweet— there was a lot going on. Slightly burnt popcorn, arare rice crackers, papier-mâché, glue, and a burning cow paddy. Meatier notes of honey glazed ham, smoked ham hock, cured salami and smoked cheddar. There was a definite umami, almost lactic funk, that was laced throughout the nose.
Palate : Medium to thick body with a rich flavor profile. Sweet earthy char, earthen oven, straw hats, and burnt popcorn, the palate generally matched the nose. Earthy notes of manure and dried shiitake mushrooms came though along with meatier impressions of slightly gamey smoked barbecue, baked beans, little smokies, pickled fish, and smoked cheese. The wife pegged the faint saltiness as Korean seaweed chips which came out near the end along with sweet raisins and dried cherries.
Finish : Lingering earthy notes with raisins and faint smoke.
Score : 7
Mental Image : Straw hats and BBQ naps
Something Better : Octomore 6Y 2007 Sauternes R&BT (similar meat & paper-mache, more maritime)
Something Worse : Bruichladdich 15Y Valinch & Mallet (similar funk, popcorn, & earthy mushroom)
Notes : My description of this is already long enough— long enough to know that there was a lot going on here and I had trouble pinning down exactly how to describe the different flavor notes. That is usually a good sign as I love an interesting dram that takes some time to figure out. I thoroughly enjoyed the unique profile on this as sherry funk and lactic Bruichladdich funk collided to create something that walked the thin line between disgusting and delicious. However, this was not the kind of thing I am pouring very often. It demanded a lot of attention and often when I have a dram, I just want to tune everything out for a little bit.
Overall this was a really nice bottle. It reminded me quite a bit of the Valinch and Mallet bottle I tried earlier this year, especially the burnt popcorn and arare notes, though this fell decidedly more on the good side of the thin line between good and novelty. A tasty Port Charlotte to be sure and one of my wife’s favorites from the recent drams we have poured.
