Port Charlotte PC8 Ar Dùthchas
70cl / 60.5% (OUT OF STOCK)
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- Cask type: American oak
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Peat Smoke, Sea Spray, and Vanilla
Smoked Meats, Iodine, Dark Chocolate, and Sweetness
Long and Warming, Lingering Peat and Citrus
Fourth Port Charlotte PC release, 60.5%, 30,000 bottles, 2001 spirit, fully cask strength and uncoloured for Islay peat fans.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Region | Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte spirit, Islay |
| Category | Single malt Scotch whisky |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 8 Years Old / Distilled 2001 / Bottled 2009 |
| ABV & Size(s) | 60.5% ABV / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | American oak (distillery notes) |
| Natural Colour | Yes (stated as without colouring) |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (stated as without chill filtration) |
| Cask Strength | Yes |
| Bottle count / Outturn | 30,000 bottles (six tin designs) |
| Intended channel | Specialist retail / collectors of the PC series |
| Packaging | Metal tube, six different designs tied to Islay locations; bottle code in 09/xx format |
| Notes on discrepancies | Some shops give 25,658 bottles; others give 30,000; both point to one 2009 run using 2001 spirit. Treat as single large outturn for listing. |
Historical Context
Port Charlotte was Bruichladdich’s answer to “we can do heavy peat too”. The PC line (PC5, PC6, PC7, then PC8) was built from the very first 2001 distillations under the revived Bruichladdich ownership. PC8 Ar Duthchas, released 2009, is the last of those original 2001 liquids, so it closes the loop on that first tranche of Port Charlotte stock. The name means roughly “our land/heritage”, which is why the tins came with six different Islay place motifs. By 2011 it was already being described as one of the most highly regarded PCs, helped by the fact it appeared the same week the spirit was named best whisky at the 2009 Whisky Fringe. The key points that make it collectible now are: 2001 vintage, 8-year age statement, 60.5% cask strength, no colour, no chill-filtration, and the six-tin presentation.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
Documented variants
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PC8 Ar Duthchas, 2001–2009, 8yo, 60.5%, 70cl, six tin designs, 30,000 bottles.
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All six tins contain the same liquid; the design is the only variation.
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No lower-strength official version under the same name.
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Market | Era cues | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60.5% | 70cl | 2009 global specialist | 6 different tubes, 2001/2009 on label | Core / highest |
| 60.5% | 70cl | Later resale / de-tubed | Bottle only | Slightly lower (pack missing) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
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Label must say Port Charlotte PC8, 8 years old, 60.5% and show 2001/2009.
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Tube should be one of the six location designs; mention which in your listing.
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Confirm “without colouring or chill filtration” text or standard PC wording of the time.
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Check for correct metal tube and correct bottle code (09/17 etc.) on rear if visible.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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This is a true single malt, not a blended or vatted malt.
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Age statement (8 years) must be kept; do not round to 10.
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Natural colour and NCF are part of the selling story and should stay in copy.
Liquid Profile (from distillery/retailer notes)
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Nose: Sea spray and peat smoke first, then pepper, lemon zest, heather/myrtle, sweet barley and fresh oak.
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Palate: Viscous, rich and oily; peat fire, Demerara sugar, malt sweetness and waves of coastal character.
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Finish: Long, ashy, marine, with oak sweetness underneath.
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With water: Takes water very well; water brings out barley, fruit and more sweetness.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
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Current UK retail (in stock, 2025): £175.00 at a leading UK specialist, for a single bottle in tube.
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Out-of-stock/archived UK specialists show it as sold out at similar levels.
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Auction range for the PC line generally sits below retail once tubes are scuffed or missing, so a realistic hammer corridor is about £130–£160 for good, tubed examples.
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Pricing stratification: tubed, clean, stated tin design at top; bottle-only mid; scuffed tubes lower.
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Liquidity: PC releases are well known; at £175 with tube it will move to Port Charlotte/Bruichladdich followers.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK specialist retail | 70cl, 60.5%, with tube | 175 | Current live price |
| UK auction (typical) | 70cl, 60.5%, with tube | 130–160 | Condition-led |
| UK auction (bottle only) | 70cl, 60.5% | 115–135 | Pack missing |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Bruichladdich used the PC series to prove it could produce uncompromising, high-PPM, fully natural Islay whisky from day one of its 2001 restart. PC8 is important because it is the last of that very first spirit, so it sits neatly in PC verticals.
Sourcing
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Target: tubed, clearly marked PC8, no dents, good fill.
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Avoid: mislabelled PC7/PC9, or PC8 without ABV/age showing.
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Buying in the £130–£150 range leaves workable margin to list at current £175 levels.
