Whisky : Port Charlotte 14 Year, Whiskybroker Private Cask #857

Country/Region : Scotland/Islay

ABV : 60.0%

Cask : Refill Sherry

Age : 14 Year (Distilled 15 Oct. 2003, Bottled 27 Nov. 2017)

Nose : Maritime, meaty, and grassy.  Aromatic smoking shack loaded with fish and kelp.  Notes of citrus rinds preserved in salt, orange oil, and faint vanilla pods.  The musty sweetness of wet hay transitioned to miso paste and roasted nori crackers.

Palate :  Medium to full-bodied with an oily texture and notes of salt, fruit, and meat.  Bright and flavorful, this dram was bursty with salty fruit punch and tropical citrus bath bombs.  As the fruit settled sweet meaty notes came through with oily smoked fish, figs, mild hard cheese, and pickled mushrooms— the wife described it as a funky great charcuterie board.  Toward the end was amaretto and slightly medicinal notes of camphor and menthol.

Finish :  Lingering salted fruits and faint medicinal herbs.

Score : 8

Mental Image : Fiesta at Inarajan Pools

Notes : This Port Charlotte was a stunner. Buying a private cask is always a huge gamble—  not one I would make, I am quite content to just split or share a bottle with friends. You never know what you will get as the whisky sits in wood for years and years. It is a dream investment, but one that does not always work out. I did not care for several of the private cask Bruichladdich’s I tried recently— I honestly felt bad for whoever invested in those casks. The last thing you want to do is drop a bunch of money and find out ten years down the line that the cask tastes off or bad. It is a perilous investment and perhaps better suited to those with the time and connections to resell the cask to a blender or a broker.

This cask was amazing— exactly what you want when you buy a bottle, much less a whole cask. The dram had clear and distinct levels of flavor, a beautifully pungent nose, and an oily viscous mouthfeel. This dram was unique and interesting, perhaps a bit less funky than some of my other favorite Port Charlottes. It was the sort of dram you can sit with and mindlessly enjoy or hunt for different flavors. It reminded me of a beachside barbecue picnic, a fiesta full of fruits and grilled meats accented with tropical florals and salt-laden air.

Overall, memorable and delicious— exactly what you want from a sherry matured Port Charlotte.

Image Credit: whisky auctioneer