Malting as before to a level of 40ppm, the self-proclaimed Progressive Hebridean Distiller, will unveil the first four bottlings in a new look range this summer.
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| The New Port Charlotte 10 Year Old |
A new vintage of Port Charlotte Islay barley, will also join the line-up. The 2011 vintage is distilled from harvests from three Islay farms; by Raymond Fletcher at Dunlossit, Raymond Stewart at Sunderland and Neil McLellan at Kilchiaran.
Also launching in domestic markets later in 2018, will be the codified and limited Port Charlotte MRC: 01. Distilled from Scottish barley in 2010, MRC:01 is matured in the oak casks from the Bordeaux left bank. Bottled at 59.2%, it's described by the brand as a superb combination of fruit-laden French oak, strong peat smoke and Islay maturation.
Port Charlotte, will also be releasing the codified and limited MC:01, travel retail exclusive. This 2009 vintage was distilled from Scottish barley and matured in Marsala casks to impart a balanced fruitiness to the smoky spirit.
Bruichladdich’s Director of Distilling and Head of Operations, Allan Logan, is now working in partnership with 17 farmers across the island, all of which grow malting barley exclusively for the distillery, despite the challenges of the Islay climate. This 2011 vintage is the second heavily-peated offering from their uber-provenance “Islay barley” stable.
Commenting on the news, Douglas Taylor, Bruichladdich Distillery CEO, said: “Our distillery project is built around certain key principles which drive everything we do. The authenticity, provenance and transparency of our spirit is paramount. We are committed to source 100% of our barley from Scotland, 33% of which is now grown on Islay. We have reintroduced ancient varietals and experimented with regionality for texture and flavour. All our whiskies are conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, unchill-filtered and colouring free, using Islay spring water.”
He went onto say: “We are committed to our community. We aim to be Islay-centric in everything we do and care about the positive economic and social impact our business has on the island. Over time we have become the biggest private employer on Islay; made possible because we are mature and bottle all our whiskies here. This vision has resulted in direct employment for 76 people at the distillery, with countless more involved through partnerships. Ultimately, we are a collective of like-minded people, passionate about this island and the single malt whisky we make here”.
All four of the new bottlings, will come presented in a new bespoke opaque green glass bottle, which is said to be a nod to the heavily-peated “Islay” category. Whilst the modernist design is said to clearly reflect the progressive values of the distillery.
Posted by Steve Rush