This week’s new scotch whisky releases include Port Charlotte’s oldest-ever age statement, a small batch series from The Glasgow Distillery, and a tongue-in-cheek 50 year old from Decadent Drinks.
Port Charlotte 18 Year Old
Bruichladdich has unveiled its oldest expression of Port Charlotte to date: an 18-year-old. Port Charlotte, a heavily peated brand of Bruichladdich whisky, was first distilled in 2001.
The release marks a significant milestone for the brand, demonstrating how far it has come since its inception. Adam Hannett, Head Distiller, shared his excitement about the milestone: “This is a special moment in my career and it’s a privilege to finally share our Port Charlotte 18 Year Old with the world”.
“This is the oldest expression of Port Charlotte we’ve released to date and it’s a real marker in time. It showcases how far the brand has come since its inception in 2001”.
Distilled, matured, and bottled on Islay, Port Charlotte’s peaty profile makes it a classic Islay expression, showcasing the smoke that the island is famous for.
The aging process took place in a combination of refill sherry casks (74%) and refill French oak wine casks (26%), contributing to a unique flavor profile.
Tasting notes feature “fig, sweet sultanas, and raisins” on the nose, followed by peat smoke and tobacco. On the palate, expect “dark fruits and chocolate” followed by “toasted spices […] orange citrus, cinder toffee, and honey”.
Priced at £175 (~$222), the limited-edition Port Charlotte 18 Year Old is available for purchase online and through select specialist retailers such as Reserve Bar.
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The Glasgow Distillery 1770 Small Batch Series
The newest releases from The Glasgow Distillery are three limited edition expressions in their esteemed Glasgow 1770 Small Batch Series. The new additions include Tequila Cask Finish, Manzanilla Sherry Cask, and Calvados Cask Finish.
The Tequila Cask Finish, triple distilled from unpeated malted barley, was first matured in an ex-bourbon cask before being finished in a tequila cask for over two years. It’s described as having notes of “honey, lemon, lime citrus, honeydew melon, and milk chocolate”. It has a strength of 55.3% ABV and an RRP of £59 (~$75).
The Manzanilla Sherry Cask, double distilled from unpeated malted barley, was fully matured in a refill Manzanilla Sherry butt that previously held peated single malt. Bottled at 59% ABV, this expression boasts notes of “saline smoke, plum, dried apricot, tropical papaya, leather, tobacco, dark chocolate, and espresso”. It also retails at £59 (~$75).
Lastly, the Calvados Cask Finish was initially matured in a first-fill ex-bourbon cask before being finished in a French Calvados cask for over two years. It offers flavors of “fresh green apple, poached pear, baked apple pie, and nutmeg spice”. Retailing at £59 (~$75), the whisky was bottled in 2023 at 58.7%.
All of the expressions are also limited in number. The Tequila Cask Finish is made up of 272 bottles. The Manzanilla Sherry Cask has 813 bottles. And, finally, the Calvados Cask Finish comprises 270 bottles.
All three whiskies are non-chill filtered and of natural color. They can be purchased via The Glasgow Distillery website.
Decadent Drinks 50 Year Old Vatted Grain
Decadent Drinks, the company founded by Angus MacRaild of WhiskyFun, has unveiled a new 50 Year Old Vatted Grain Whisky.
The release is part of the company’s Noteable Age Statements series, which has previously featured a 50 Year Old Armagnac.
Decadent Drinks is known for its tongue-in-cheek approach to marketing. For example, the acronym by which this series is known, NAS, might be confused for ‘no age statement’. In actual fact, this whisky is half a century old.
Distilled in 1972 and matured for 50 years in a refill cask, the whisky was bottled at cask strength. You can purchase the Decadent Drinks 50 Year Old Vatted Grain now for £285 (~$362) on the Decadent Drinks website.
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