Richard-ModernDrinking
Port Charlotte 16 Year
Single Malt — Islay, Scotland
Reviewed
August 16, 2020 (edited November 19, 2020)
This is Port Charlotte 10 turned up to, well, 16. Age has not tempered it. It’s bigger, brasher, peatier and sweeter. The nose is heathery peat and menthol layered over the flesh of white grapes. It’s oily and sweet in the mouth, with a dash of pepper. The finish is long and sweet, and perhaps a little cloying for my taste. I passed on buying a full bottle of this despite drawing a winning lottery ticket as the price gave me pause. I’m glad I did. While it’s a very well executed whisky, the Sauternes casks are a little too dominant for my liking. If you like your peat with a sugar coating, however, you’ll enjoy this sweet 16.
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@Slainte-Mhath It was a limited edition, in lieu of a Feis Ile release I think
@Richard-ModernDrinking Is this a new core range expression?
@Richard-ModernDrinking Thanks for providing that basis of comparison. I do rather like some of the Glenmos like the 10, Quinta Ruban 14 and - appropriately - the Nectar D'Or. I'll be on the lookout for this as a sample, but I would have bought it in a heartbeat if it were instead, say, more complex and meaty rather than more sweet and brash.
@ContemplativeFox It’s good, I’m just very sensitive to sweetness. I can’t even finish a dram of most of the entry level Glenmorangies and Bowmores. If you don’t mind a sweet finish, you may well love this.
Wow, sauternes was a bold move (and not really the direction I think PC 10 needs to go in). Disappointed by this outcome with the 16. I was hoping for more complexity with some of the stronger flavors in better balance.