Port Charlotte 6 Year Old Islay Barley 2011
70cl / 50%
£99.00
- Cask type: Wine
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Honey, Peat Smoke, Lime and Ginger Snaps
Smoky, Citrus, Earth and Marzipan
Medium Finish, Seaweed, Salt and Peat Smoke
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A powerfully peated single malt defined by the uncompromising terroir of 100% Islay-grown barley and specific cask selection.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Bruichladdich / Original Bottling / Scotland, Islay |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Heavily Peated, 40ppm) 12 |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 6 Years Old / Distilled 2011 / Bottled circa 2017 13 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 50% / 700ml (750ml in some markets) 13 |
| Cask / Treatment | 75% Ex-Bourbon, 25% Second-fill Syrah and Figero Wine 13 |
| Natural Colour | Yes (Natural Colour) 15 |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (NCF) 16 |
| Cask Strength | No (Bottled at 50% ABV) |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Not stated by the producer (Standard large batch for the series) |
| Intended channel | Global Core/Premium Retail |
| Packaging | Clear glass bottle, distinctive Port Charlotte label and tin |
| Notes on discrepancies | While Port Charlotte releases are often NAS, this particular bottling is confirmed as 6 Years Old, distilled 2011.13 |
Historical Context
The Port Charlotte Islay Barley series is a flagship expression of Bruichladdich’s post-2001 mission to champion transparency and Islay terroir. The bottling is critically important as it represents one of the first heavily peated Islay whiskies produced entirely from 100% locally grown barley. The barley used for the 2011 vintage was sourced from six farms across the island, heavily peated to 40 parts per million (ppm).
The decision to bottle this single malt at only six years old is a deliberate statement about whisky philosophy. By releasing the spirit at a comparatively young age, the distillery aims to demonstrate that superior raw material quality and intelligent cask management can yield a mature, complex flavour profile without relying on extended time in oak. The focus is entirely on the inherent character of the Islay spirit and the powerful influence of the local grain and environment.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
The 2011 Islay Barley release is presented at a bottling strength of 50% ABV. The spirit's complexity is derived not just from the heavy peating but also from a precise and unconventional maturation strategy. The whisky spent six years maturing in a combination of casks: 75% in first-fill American Whiskey casks (ex-Bourbon) and the remaining 25% in second-fill wine casks, specifically Syrah and Figero.
For a 6-year-old expression, the dual wine cask finishing is a key technical differentiator. By using second-fill wine casks, the maturation achieves a subtle layer of red fruit, spice, and complexity without allowing the strong Syrah or Figero character to overwhelm the maritime peat smoke. This strategic cask choice effectively compresses the flavour development, providing the requisite depth typically achieved through a longer aging period.
Documented variants
Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2011 (6 Year Old, 50% ABV).
Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 (Current release, 50% ABV).
Port Charlotte Scottish Barley (Core, NAS, 50% ABV).
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
| 50% | 700ml/750ml | Global Retail | Islay Barley designation, 2011 Vintage | Moderate/High (Provenance Focus) |
| 50% | 700ml/750ml | Global Retail | Standard PC 10 YO | High (Core Range Benchmark) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
Bruichladdich maintains high standards of transparency, and this Original Bottling is Non-Chill-Filtered (NCF) and presented at Natural Colour. The spirit, exhibiting a light primrose to citrine colour, is contained in a clear glass bottle. To ensure the correct vintage is acquired, the label must explicitly state "Islay Barley" and the 2011 vintage year, distinguishing it clearly from the current ongoing Islay Barley releases (e.g., the 2014 vintage).
Regulatory/terminology notes
The term "Islay Barley" serves as a self-imposed regulatory standard, enforcing the requirement that the malt used originated exclusively from the island. Consistent adherence to NCF and Natural Colour is a foundational ethos of the distillery, guaranteeing the full range of flavour oils and spirit character is preserved in the 50% ABV bottling.
Liquid Profile (from verifiable notes)
Nose: A potent bouquet where the peat smoke, characterised as dry and earthy campfire smoke, is calmed by significant marine and ozone notes. Beneath the smoke, creamy sweetness emerges, including hints of white cake, vanilla custard, and honey.
Palate: Exhibits a distinctive oily, mouthcoating texture. The flavour is marked by the peat, manifesting as charred sticks and a medicinal element, balanced by a fizzy, floral sweetness. Secondary notes include candy brittle, black licorice, and ash.
Finish: Medium-long, offering a lingering residue of coal smoke and sweetness. The influence of the Syrah and Figero wine casks provides unique fruity notes, sometimes described as purple Nerds or cut stems.
With water: The addition of water is reported to co-ax forth gentle citrus notes, such as lemon meringue and clementine, enhancing the floral and maritime aspects.
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Bruichladdich operates with a strong mandate for transparency, using predominantly Islay-only ingredients for specific releases. Port Charlotte is the highly-peated expression of this philosophy, focusing on marrying heavy peat smoke with complexity derived from varied, often high-quality, wine and spirit casks, consistently bottled at 50% ABV to maintain flavour integrity.
Sourcing
Target formats/eras
Target the 700ml Original Bottling of the 2011 Islay Barley vintage.
Red flags to avoid
Ensure the bottle specifies the 'Islay Barley' sourcing and the '2011' vintage, as confusion with the standard 'Scottish Barley' or '10 Year Old' core expressions is common.
Condition thresholds
Standard modern whisky condition requirements: intact seal and excellent label condition.
Margin/velocity expectations
High velocity as a premium, high-quality drinker's malt. Stable retail margins, with opportunities to maximise profit by sourcing competitively through auction channels.
