Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Year Old

Distillery Background and History

Bruichladdich, founded in 1881 on Islay—known for its dramatic coastal whiskies—was revived in 2000 under Mark Reynier with a focus on terroir and innovation. Its Port Charlotte line honors the historic, adjacent Port Charlotte distillery site, offering heavily peated expressions crafted with transparency and regional identity.

Master Distiller and Production Philosophy

Pioneered by Jim McEwan, Bruichladdich built its reputation on promoting provenance and purity. The Port Charlotte 10 continues this ethos, spotlighting peated barley, Islay water, and minimal intervention methods that preserve distillery character.

Source of Ingredients (Grain, Water, Yeast)

Although not specifying exact farms, Port Charlotte 10 uses 100% Scottish barley, with distillation on Islay using local water sources. Traditional fermentation and no added color or chill-filtration emphasize ingredient integrity.

Distillation Process

Trickle-distilled in tall, narrow-necked copper pot stills—typical Bruichladdich designs—ensuring a rich, aromatic spirit with clarity and elegance.

Maturation & Cask Information

Aged for 10 years, likely in a combination of first-fill and refill American oak casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill-filtered, and naturally colored, showcasing cask-driven depth and coastal maturation.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Rich peat smoke with vanilla, seaweed, barley sugar, caramel fudge, and lemony hay.

Palate: Oily and intense, delivering honey, lemon tart, grilled coconut, oyster brine, and spices, with a cooling then warming sensation from minty pepper notes.

Finish: Long, dry and smoky with bonfire embers, black pepper, herbal salinity, and touch of medicinal earth.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Excellent with grilled seafood (oysters, scallops), smoked meats, dark chocolate with sea salt, or aged sheep cheese to complement its smoky and salinic complexity.

Serving Suggestions and Ideal Glassware

Enjoy neat or with a few drops of water; best served at room temperature (~18–20 °C) in a Glencairn glass to reveal its aromatic layers and peated depth.

Storage and Aging Potential

If sealed and stored upright in a cool, dark, stable environment, it remains stable long-term. Additional bottle aging may integrate flavors gently—but most complexity derives from its 10-year cask maturation.

Grain Type & Mash Bill

Single malt Scotch whisky, 100% malted Scottish barley, heavily peated (~40 ppm phenol).

ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

50 % ABV (100 proof).

Scores