Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012

Light, sweet, smokey but very smooth. Smokey finish. Not too spicy

Baby Octomore? Nose - Peat and sweet barely dominate the nose. There are notes of youth but the overall profile is very similar to an octomore with a bit more sour and a touch more unrefined alcohol note. Perhaps a wider cut? Taste - The opening is pure smoke, then you get this rich sweet barely, and then dark burnt earth comes out in full force. Sweet smoked light and savory meat turning into a burnt beef brisket all driven by a sweet barely. Damn good. There's a bit more alcohol than perhaps is needed, it's just a touch bitey. This is a wonderful perfectly balanced young heavily peated whisky. About 80 bucks and it's better than the 10. Would I make a regular habit buying it? My first thoughts when I poured it, YES! But the more I go back the more I sadly find myself drinking a good whisky, but there isn't enough here for me to run out and spend 80. I'd rather save up for an octomore or get something a bit older. I'm looking for some fruits or something to add balance to the barely and smoke profile. This is where I think so highly of Ardbeg 10, that lemon lime thing it does creates a layer of depth and complexity needed so badly there (I know some aren't fans). Anyway I'm a solid 2.5 on this one. Clearly above average whisky but the lack of something else is starting to move this down the ranking for me. Oddly I've similarly recently moved Port Charlotte 10 down on my list of great affordable peated whiskies because....well good proof can't be in and of itself the reason to rank whiskies higher or lower when there's more to them.

Open Date = 4-24-2021 Tasting Date = 6-27-2021 Weeks open = 10 weeks Tasting proof = 100 Bottle Fill Level = Quarter bottle. Rating system: 5 = outstanding ; 4.5 = excellent ; 4 = very good ; 3.5 = good ; 3 = above average ; 2.5 = average ; 2 = acceptable ; 1.5 = adequate ; 1 = inferior ; 0.5 = very poor ; 0 = undrinkable You possibly may get what you pay for but you never get what you don't pay for...........Slainte'

Grassy, maybe a little floral, smoky peat on the nose. The malt is definitely not drowned out by the smoke and instead pairs nicely. Pepper and meaty smoke up front on the taste that fades into a sweet malt at the end. Reminds me a little of Talisker 10 without the salt. Really good. It has the character of the heaviest of peat monsters without the abrasive nature.

Peat, ash, mint, smoked meat, barnyard, summer sausage, herbs, pepper, floral, rubber, sweet and spicy. 81