Port Charlotte 11 Years Valinch Taigh Bathair Bannaichte Cask Exploration 14 (50cl, 51.7%)

This is a Port Charlotte single malt from Bruichladdich on Islay, released as Cask Exploration 14 in the Valinch series, in which the distillery's staff choose a single cask. It is an 11-year-old from the 2005 vintage, bottled in May 2017 at a cask strength of 51.7% in a 50cl bottle. It was matured in a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt, and 896 bottles were filled. Port Charlotte is heavily peated, though not super-heavily. The nose has pecan cake, dry leaves, raspberry and lemon curd, with eucalyptus, seaweed and brown sugar. The palate brings cream cheese, raspberry cream, fresh pecans, popcorn and grilled pineapple. The finish runs from basil pesto and pizza dough to pralines and cream ice cream.