Whisky : Port Charlotte OLC:01

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 55.1%

Cask : 7Y Ex-bourbon, Syrah, VDN (vin doux naturel), 2Y Oloroso Hogsheads

Age : 9 Years

Nose :  Figs and dates open things up with hints of berry and green mango.  Savory notes of leather shoes, tree resin, damp wood, and crisp mountain forest air come through with floral jasmine.  Hints of salt, olive brine, grape leaf, and fruit blossom join with charred wood and a gas camping stove.

Palate : Medium bodied with a mild oiliness.  The wife called it “boozy dates” as a good number of fruits start things off along with fruit blossom, orange oil, and aniseed.  Lacquered rosewood arrives in the mid palate along with herbs (the wife said dill in particular) and tobacco.  A subtle earth smoke from a clay pot come nears the end along with Nespresso and bitter chocolate.

Finish :  Tannic and dry with floral sugars and salted caramel.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Morning Coffee at the Camp Grounds.

Something Better : Bowmore 21Y H. Laing OMC K&L (more tropical fruits/ spice/ grill smoke)

Something Similar : Glentauchers 15Y; Chieftain’s (similar concentrated fruit/coffee, less body)

Something Worse : Westland American Oak (similar fruit & misty woods, less finish, sweeter)

Notes : I was conflicted on this bottle— on the one hand it had some wonderful notes, good structure, and a nice finish, so it cannot be considered anything but a good bottle.  On the other hand, the flavor profile was not as clean and well defined as the CC:01 or MRC:01 and the other limited releases from Port Charlotte.  While I this did have a bit better mouthfeel than those other releases, it felt unfocused and not rich enough for distinct layers of flavor to really come through.  It ended up feeling a bit muddled.  The Oloroso influence was overall tame besides a bit of fig, coffee, and chocolate on the palate.  The dram also seemed absent much of the delicious and strange funky-barnyard notes I think of with Port Charlotte.  While it might sound like I am being a bit harsh, I did actually enjoy this dram.  I just love some of the other Port Charlotte expressions a bit more and while I did buy the CC and MRC, I probably will not put a bottle of the OLC in my cabinet.

I found that the hints of tropical fruit blossom and resinous wood notes transported me straight back to camping.  The dram reminded me of waking up early with morning mist still clinging to the woods while I sip a dark cup of instant coffee.