I couldn’t attend the Whisky Truthful in Limburg this 12 months, as I used to be travelling to Canterbury and London on the identical weekend, a visit that had been deliberate two years in the past. Nonetheless, Martin from Maltbarn was form sufficient to ship me a number of samples of his choice of bottles that had been offered on the pageant.
We begin with a 20 12 months outdated Port Charlotte 2001. Twenty years already – this have to be the oldest model I’ve had to date. I nonetheless keep in mind my first bottles of PC5 and later PC6 which was additionally a 2001 classic.
Port Charlotte 20 yo 2001 (54,9%, Maltbarn 2021, bourbon cask, 135 btl.)
Nostril: a very nice, deep but pretty mild smokiness combined with a contemporary minty breeze. Hints of moist gravel and olive oil, in addition to some medicinal notes. Smoked leather-based and paprika. Sweeter notes beneath, in addition to some vanilla. The age makes this a extremely built-in, complicated Port Charlotte.
Mouth: greater than anticipated, that is nonetheless very punchy. Loads of heat smoke, iodine and smouldering barbecue. Candy fruity notes within the background. Then within the foreground spicy notes construct up (pepper, clove) with a touch of candy ginger, drying seaweed and sheep wool. Very ashy in the direction of the top.
End: lengthy, with numerous coal mud, pepper and a bittersweet oily notice.
Very nice. It’s an outstanding distillate that hasn’t misplaced any of its energy after twenty years. Good complexity and richness. Beneficial. Verify Maltbarn for extra particulars (though this bottle isn’t talked about on the web site but).
In one of many earlier batches of Maltbarn we additionally discovered this Bruichladdich 2006 which was bottled for Whisky & Phrases, apparently a whisky den within the Central district of Hong Kong. One way or the other my overview didn’t come on-line again then, so let’s add it now as a bonus.
Bruichladdich 14 yo 2006 (54,3%, Maltbarn 2020, sherry cask, 160 btl.)
Nostril: traditional Laddie complexity. There’s dusty barley, sea air and whiffs of melons. Additionally mineral oils, moist materials and putty, nearly a mild model of Springbank. Gentle grassy notes, damaged branches and delicate farmy touches as effectively. I like this fashion.
Mouth: identical ideas. It’s sharp and centered at first, with numerous oily notes and minerals, white pepper and hay, but in addition heat fruity traces within the background. Melons, then grapefruit. A bit of mint and juniper berries, in addition to some sherry-related spices like nutmeg.
End: lengthy, nonetheless spicy, with lingering minerals and farmy touches.
A very nice choice, it reveals an intense, traditional Islay character albeit with out the smoke. A stunning character, positively from an incredible cask. I assume all bottles have discovered a house already. Rating: 89/100
