For our August Malt Club, one day after its launch in New Zealand at the Hancocks Trade Tour, we were privileged to share with our customers the brand-new releases of Port Charlotte from the Bruichladdich distillery.
With no better person to take us through the night but Islay’s own, Chloe Wood. Chloe’s youth certainly doesn’t sway her knowledge or passion she holds for the great liquid and all things Islay! The production side of whisky-making is what Chloe grew up surrounded by, with the Wood’s family farming land on Islay for decades; only lying four miles south of Port Charlotte. It wasn’t long until she started working for Bruichladdich herself, her first job in fact was working at the Laddie shop at the distillery; you could say the rest is history! Chloe has recently taken on the role of Asia Pacific Brand Ambassador and is now situated in Singapore – a wee ways from the peaty island!
Port Charlotte 10-year-old is Bruichladdich’s first ever permanent introduction of an aged-stated bottling, replacing the current multi-vintage Port Charlotte Scottish Barley. Distilled using only Scottish barley and bottled at 50% ABV.
Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2011 is a new vintage distilled using only barley grown on three Islay farms and bottled at 50% ABV. Both new releases have been made from barley peated to 40ppm.
Special highlights of the tasting were the unique characteristics coming from their own Islay grown barley including; The Bere Barley 2008 and The Organic 2009. Watch out for these in the future!
Finishing the night with the world’s most peated whisky range, Octomore 8.4 Virgin Oak and Octomore 8.3 Islay Barley which were both exceptionally well received.
