WHISKEY Port Charlotte SC01 Islay Barley 2012 Scotland 55.2° 70 cl 40 PPM

The Port Charlotte SC01 2012 Whiskey has a complexity that pushes the extreme limits of Islay single malt as you know it. This is a peated whiskey (40ppm) aged for 9 years in a combination of Sherry Butts and Sauternes wine barrels. For the first time in the Cask Exploration Series, this release contains 100% Islay-grown barley. The 2011 crop was raised by seven of the partner farmers, all located within a 10-mile radius of the distillery. The nose is sweet, of stone fruits with a delicate floral scent. Smoky notes come with time. Initially peaches in syrup, dried apricots, honeydew melon and very ripe pineapple. Brown sugar, vanilla fondant, caramel and almond paste. Heady notes of honeysuckle and heather mingle with sweet notes of ripe fruit. Peat smoke and warm toasted oak appear with some time to bring depth and complexity to the dram. On the palate, the warmth and supple texture of this dram elegantly adorn the palate and combine a balance of light peat smoke and ripe fruit. Another sip confirms both the lovely viscosity and depth of flavor, as beneath the delicate smoke lie earthy notes of leather and shoe polish. Wonderful marine minerality and earthy peat smoke linger on the palate with a citrus flavor. "the dram" remains little used, except in two cases: - the pharmacy, where certain medications have long been dosed in drams and where the dram has been defined as the equivalent of a teaspoon (of syrup, for example); - whisky, where, much more simply, far from complex weights, to the nearest comma, the dram is "a small quantity" or "a small sip". A few centimeters, in short... a glass, yes, why not. Quite often, on sites or written materials, the measurement of the dram is specified ("a 3 cl dram" for example), in order to help the consumer find their way. But in a bar, just count a standard drink, no more, no less.