Bruichladdich Port Charlotte OLC: 01 2010

An Islay peated Single Malt brought to life by four different exceptional cask types.

The Bruichladdich Distillery is very impressive. In 1881 the Harvey brothers — who came from a Whisky family dynasty — built a cathedral-like, state-of-the-art Victorian still house with unheard-of six-meter tall stills. After being closed for a short period between 1994-2001, the distillery was brought back to life using pretty much the same 100 year old equipment by two London Wine merchants, who believed that terroir matters. They proudly practice slow fermentation and slow distillation using traditional wooden vats and huge washes made from towering Douglas Fir. The distillery produces non-peated Bruichladdich Single Malt, Port Charlotte which is peated in the classic Islay style, the heavily peated Octomore, and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin.

Bruichladdich has a "Cask Exploration" series that is just what it sounds like — a series of experiments in wood influences and unique cask combinations. Bruichladdich Port Charlotte OLC: 01 2010 is one of those experiments across four different cask types. The Single Malt was peated to 40 ppm and first aged in Bourbon, Syrah Wine, and Vin Doux Naturel casks for about eight years. Then the Spirits are married and transferred to first-fill Oloroso Sherry Hogsheads for another eighteen months. This amazing dram has been bottled at 55.1% ABV without chill-filtering or colorings.

Smartass Corner:
"Vin Doux Naturel" (VDN) is a traditional sweet Wine that has been manipulated during fermentation through fortification with Brandy. It is most often associated with the Languedoc region of France.