The latest batch of Elements of Islay bottlings includes the first Port Charlotte in this series. A sherried expression.

Port Charlotte Pl1 (60%, Specialty Drinks 2012, 50 cl)

Nose: a lot of peat smoke and soot, some shoe polish and smoked bacon. A slight rubbery element. Nutmeg and liquorice. A big and powerful Islay malt, but it’s sweetened by some dates and sweet tobacco. Over time it shows camphor and light farmy notes. Mouth: deep, overwhelming peat, with a huge blast of tar and quite some medicinal / camphory notes. Iodine and ashes. Less sherry sweetness now, more briney notes, kippers and liquorice. A little resin. Really powerful. Fades away on ginger and herbs. Finish: long, hot and peppered with a medicinal background and a hint of forest fruits.

This is a brute force whisky – very big in some respects – yet it manages to leave enough room for an array of tiny flavours that come out after some time. One of the best Port Charlottes in my book. Around € 115.

Score: 89/100