Port Charlotte 2001/2004 (67.3%, Private Bottling, cask #286, 336 bottles)
Colour: white wine.
Nose: it is not too spirity at first nosing, but rather very smoky and rubbery. Some fresh and lively fruity notes arise after that smoky-rubbery blast: pear, apple, gooseberries, ripe kiwi, litchis… Some sea air too, plus some hints of wet hay and (clean) cow stable. Amazingly mature for such a young malt, it could as well have been a 10 yo. Simply flawless.
Mouth: incredible, it is drinkable at more than 67%. Very sweet than on the nose. Hints of fruit spirit coming from the young age. Lots of apple juice, pear juice, gentian. Quite grassy too, with some perfume… Okay, after three small sips, this is finally getting strong. Let’s add some water now… Great, the malt reacts beautifully after the usual one or two minutes of saponification. Lots of fruity notes developing, mostly peach.
Finish: the finish is long and very bold.
