Port Charlotte 2002 Cask Whisperer 17 Year Old / Whisky Shop Neumarkt

Port Charlotte is a heavily peated single malt produced at Bruichladdich distillery, introduced after Murray McDavid purchased the distillery 2001. The brand is named after a historic distillery in the eponymous neighbouring town. Having been traditionally an un-peated single malt due to the needs of its former owners for their blends, Murray McDavid were quick to diversify the Bruichladdich portfolio, also introducing the even peatier Lochindaal and Octomore.

This whisky was distilled in June 2002 and aged 17 years. It was bottled in September 2020.

Despite having come out of retirement to take on a new challenge at Ardnahoe distillery on Islay, his enduring legacy (for the time being at least) is his success in rejuvenating the neighbouring Bruichladdich when it re-opened in 2001. Born on the island, Jim began his career at Bowmore, starting out on 1st August 1963 at the age of 15 as an apprentice cooper, he worked his way up to cellar master at the distillery's famous warehouses before moving to Glasgow at the age of 28 to train as a blender for parent company, Morrison Bowmore. After eight years, Jim returned to Islay at the request of Suntory to become its new distillery manager at Bowmore before ending his illustrious 38 year career as an ambassador for not only Islay's oldest working distillery, but the island itself. When the offer was made to reopen and manage the redundant Bruichladdich, Jim leapt at the chance to reawaken this mothballed giant, and revitalise both it and its importance to the island. Over the next decade and a half, he helped transform the image of the distillery, breathing new life into its existing stock with a pioneering new wood policy, and reviving the historic tradition of peated single malt production by introducing the Port Charlotte and Octomore brands, and of course, the acclaimed The Botanist gin.

One of 218 bottles.