The Evolution of Port Charlotte

The first entirely new Islay whisky is launched - the re-awakening of the long-lost soul of an extinct distillery.

‘PC5 Evolution’ is the first ever release of Port Charlotte single malt whisky, the heavily peated whisky that is distilled, matured and bottled at Bruichladdich on the Isle of Islay.

It is the first single malt to be released that was distilled by the new owners of Bruichladdich, following the 2001 renovation of the once closed distillery.

Master Distiller Jim McEwan: "From records we know that Bruichladdich spirit was influenced by peat - to some degree at least - before 1961

"And at the same time this is paying homage, a doffing of the cap, to the old Port Charlotte distillery two miles down the road that closed owing to Prohibition in 1929."

The old distillery in Port Charlotte, according to recently discovered records from 1887 stated: "peat only is used in drying the malt, fired in open chauffeurs".

The last known bottle tasted was in 1963, part of privately-owned stash of Alexander Grant then owner of Bruichladdich to celebrate a new boiler installation.

In a strange twist of fate, the PC5 Evolution release also coincides with a new boiler installation albeit 43 years later.

Islander Ruraidh McLeod, then a distillery mashman, remembers what it tasted like. At 85 years old, he is the last man alive to have tasted the original Port Charlotte whisky:

"I remember it well; we were called together to try it. It was a special event that called for a rare bottle. Sure enough it was very, very peaty; but it was as smooth as velvet."

The Port Charlotte single malt of today was distilled with barley peated to 40 PPM (parts per million of phenols) making it one of the most peaty whiskys on the island.

"It was the result of an incredibly slow ‘trickle distillation’" a specialty of Master Distiller Jim McEwan "to achieve maximum purity, flavour and texture.

Sales Director Andrew Gray: "We had no intention, or indeed necessity, to bottle at this age. But we are immensely proud of the quality of the first whisky we made ourselves."

"It’s a work in progress, an evolution, and if it continues to develop like this, well... Sure it’s a little tease, there are only 1000 cases for the world – and that is four times over subscribed - but it’s a landmark for Islay and Bruichladdich."

And how does PC5 Evolution compare with the old? Ruaridh McLeod notes: "It has the same peatiness right enough, right enough. Och, its just as smooth as cow’s milk…

Professor Walter Schobert, the first author and whisky expert to taste the new whisky:

"What a whisky, an Islay malt by birth, and an Islay malt by character. First you get the peat, the wonderful, beloved aroma; then you feel that this is a whisky without edges."

"It’s well balanced and you have a beautiful and exciting harmony between the floral notes for which one loves Bruichladdich, a tempting sweetness, and surprisingly fruity flavours. Incredible."

A new Islay whisky - or is that ‘reincarnation’? – is born. Full-throttle peat, but with out the medicine. Living up to such an illustrious memory, it brings a sparkle to an old man’s eye.


Press release by Bruichladdich, http://www.bruichladdich.com/