Scotch Review: Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Heavily Peated

Last year around Christmas I purchased a sample bottle pack of Bruichladdich. This included the Classic Laddie and both versions of the Port Charlotte heavily peated and Islay Single Malt. We tried and drank the Classic Laddie but since we are not huge Scotch fans we were in no hurry to drink the Port Charlotte and Islay which left them for our whiskey portion of the WSET course. After being shut down in 1994, Bruichladdich came back as a distillery in 2001 and wanted to be a change to the norm for the scotch that was out there. They go against the grain to try a new process of making a spirit to see what happens.

On the pour, it had a lovely dark lemon hue to the scotch. This was surprising since it is a 10-year-old whiskey. The climate in Scotland is different from the States where it doesn't interact with the oak barrels as quickly.

The nose gave us medium to pronounced notes of earthy/bog, slight oak, and mustiness.

With the palate, we expected the same as the nose and weren't too eager since we are not accustomed to the single malt/heavily peated world. It did give a medium-to-long finish that had some complexity to it. It was easy to discern the toasty and smokey aspect of the peating process. There were also notes of pepper, cinnamon, fruit, slight leather, and an ashtray feel. It left you with a warming feel in your body for those cold winter nights by a fireplace.

We are still not the biggest Scotch drinkers out there yet but this was still one that had its independent character to it that sets it apart from other varieties out there. For those Scotch lovers that enjoy heavy peat, this may be the Scotch for you.