Port Charlotte Islay Barley

Backstory: I participated in a Distiller W.O.W. (whiskies of the world) Zoom call having received 10 drams of different whiskies, actually 9 as they snuck one rum in with the mix. See my review on Diplomatico Reserva. I am so glad to have been introduced to a rum that put my love of bourbon to the test! This tasting event was a gift for my finance for his 50th so I got each of us a sample box and we joined in the Zoom call together one evening. It was a blast and I am glad we had two boxes as by the time we got to the last few drams my tasting notes got a little suspect as I had a pretty good buzz going! Plus, even with clearing my palette, and sniffing on coffee beans I am sure that my tasting was not as great as it was on those first few drams. We were smart to just share in the first box and save the second back for tasting over a period of a week just to be sure our notes were correct. So I am on #6 of the 9 whiskies we tasted. Taking me awhile to get them all logged due to wanting to try them yet again one more time, especially any scotch due to my youthful but growing palette. Initially this one was not one I totally disliked although I am still developing a taste for scotch I did find elements of this one to enjoy when I first tried it. For fun and to further my education I am going to write out my initial notes and my notes today as I sample it again. For reference we did our tasting on September 30th which is about 2.5 weeks ago. Appearance: Straw Blonde, no immediate legs per say but a nice ring around the glass that slowly trails down, oily. This remains the same today. Initial Nose: Bandaids - nothing else. Current Nose: This has changed substantially for me and today I get: vanilla, sea salt, and a tingly sensation in the nose. There is a semi strong alcohol nose burn but I have sensed a lot stronger so I will say mid range. Allowing it to sit a bit I get leather and smoke along with fruity notes. I am not yet great at picking the notes out when it comes to scotch but I am definitely getting better at it. Progress! After cheating a bit and looking at the guide that came with the selections sent I am picking up some of the nosing notes provided but that only came with the assistance. While I can detect them now it is my goal to detect them more on my own. On to Mouthfeel: First time around all I noted was Full On Smoke. So it was so smoky at that time I clearly did not get much for anything else on the feel. Let's see what today brings... Mouthfeel today: Oily, creamy, smoky. Ahhh there we go, much better! I AM learning! Flavor: 2.5 Weeks ago... Smoky, so smoky, heat, strong heat. Laughing at myself. My notes were so elementary! I was probably half lit since this was my 6th tasting and I had already had a couple pours before the tasting even began since it started later in the evening but whatever. Flavor Today: Vanilla, butter, apple, pear, smoke, salt, brine, - wow so many beautiful notes. The smokiness is so different than just a couple of weeks ago. Instead of being overpowering and insulting to my taste I find it quite interesting. Allowing it to sit really brings forward some of the hidden (to me) flavor notes such as coconut cream, honey and earth. The ting tang flavor comes forward more as tart fruits and less sour. The iodine flavor is far less offensive, and if I dare say so, not offensive at all and far more smoky in nature. Also I am finding a nutty flavor that I had not before. I am really digging this aftertaste and have pored the rest of my sample. Dare I add a drop of water? I shall! Curiosity gets the better of me. I hope I am making the right decision. Findings: So while adding a drop of water did open up the nose a lot to the sweeter and creamier aromas I have not found that it really changed the flavor at all. So not a bad experiment but nothing really outstanding to report other than a pleasant nose. Overall impression is that this is a very lovely and well balanced scotch. It reminds me of a campfire feel and I enjoy it very much. :)

Lots of flavor, the pear doesn’t overpower.

Honey smoke.

Excellent dram. Reminds me of kilchoman machir bay with a little more smoke. Tastes of melon and citrus. Fruity. Beautiful summer dram.

90