Port Charlotte PAC:01 Scotch Review

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Distilled and bottled by Bruichladdich

Region: Islay

Type: Single Malt

ABV: 56.1%

Age: 8yrs

Color: Dark Gold

Bruichladdich’s Port Charlotte PAC:01 is part of the distillery’s experimental cask series and this particular limited edition was released in early 2021.

The PAC:01 release consists of two parcels of Scottish barley that where initially aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being transferred to wine casks from the Northern Bordeaux region of France.

As with everything that Bruichladdich releases, this whisky is non-chill filtered and contains no added caramel coloring.

Tasting Notes

Nose: A beautiful nose that begins with peaty character: campfire smoke, grilled meats and a damp, earthy peat which dissipates into a rich, dark chocolate note accompanied by cherries and club soda.

Palate: A pleasant and oily palate that is defined by sweet and spicy notes. There’s an assortment of citrus fruit along with pepper, clove and maritime notes of seaweed and salt spray.

Finish: Long and warming, the finish begins with a return of the smoke from the nose, there’s also a rhubarb reduction providing a tart but slightly sweet note to the finish which concludes with burnt toast and old leather.

Score: 9/10

Conclusion: This is fantastic whisky. It blends together delicious sweet, spicy and savory notes and wraps them in smoke. The wine barrel finish not only shows up as red fruits and vegetables, but it also gives a richness to the dram.

Meanwhile, dark chocolate and leather notes give great balance to the whisky. This is a contender for whisky of the year for me. It is everything I like about a peated scotch and I can guarantee I’ll be looking for a second bottle.

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