Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013
$109.99
Produced from a 2012 crop of 100% Islay grown concerto barley, peated to 40ppm, and matured 7 years in ex-Bourbon, with"25% of the parcel was then ace’d in first fill French wine casks before being married back together for bottling. 8 years old and 50%.
Producer Description
"The barley harvest for this 2013 vintage was raised on our home shores in 2012 by seven of our Islay farming partners. Hunter Jackson at Cruach, Ian McKerrell at Island farm, Raymond Fletcher at Dunlossit estate, Donald and Andrew Jones at Coull, Mark French at Rockside, Alastair Torrance at Mulindry and Raymond Stewart at Sunderland all undertook the risk of growing in challenging conditions to deliver the barley for this Scotch whisky with unparalleled provenance. This Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013 single malt has been matured in ex-American and ex-wine casks hailing from the Pessac-Leognan region of France. Heavily peated and malted to 40 PPM, this eight-year-old single malt pays homage to its island home. With redberry fruits, toasted oak notes and hints of coffee and chocolate, it offers a dramatic, smoky finish."
Rest & Be Thankful Port Charlotte 2005
$309.99
Unquestionably one of the most exciting and challenging whiskies on the market, Port Charlotte commands attention in all its guises. In fact, there's a part of me that wishes Bruichladdich would ditch the other ranges and produce Port Charlotte full time, but I suppose variety is also a good thing. Unfortunately, heavy demand on the distillery's stocks means that it is exceedingly rare to see PC beyond 10 years of age. Thankfully we have indie bottlers like Rest & Be Thankful, who are the only ones giving us higher age statement Port Charlotte expressions. This single cask (#1577) appears to be full term maturation in an ex-wine hogshead. At cask strength, this should be a real rollercoaster of flavours. Look for sweetness, big smoke, and a whole lot of farmyard in a bottle.
272 Bottles. Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 54.6% abv. 87.45pts Whiskybase
Rest & Be Thankful Port Charlotte 2002
$439.99
Single cask, cask strength, Port Charlotte. Hell yeah. After nearly two decades in an ex-wine hogshead, our friends at Rest & Be Thankful were able to get just 222 bottles of this one. Expect the wine to deliver some sweet, sour, and savoury notes to Port Charlotte's smoky, coastal, and farmy stylings. We're itching to try this one, because let's face it...19 year old Port Charlotte is as rare as hen's teeth.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 56.3% abv. 89.25pts Whiskybase
Smokehead Terminado Islay Single Malt
$105.99
The latest Smokehead line extension is Terminado, a Tequila cask finished Islay single malt, reputedly from Ardbeg, bottled at 43%.
Producer Description
"Terminado brings together Smokehead Islay single malt with tequila. It’s the meeting of two restless spirits – and the awakening of a mesmerising whisky. There, in this tequila cask finish, fiery peat awakes with wild agave. Smoke mixes with chewy meringue. And citrus spins with sweetness. You ain’t tasted nothing like this before."
Maltbarn Caol Ila 2007
$299.99
Caol Ila, more than any other Islay single malt, seems to marry really well with sherry casks. We expect this 15-year-old to be no exception. A small outturn of only 153 bottles, only a handful of which came to KWM. 88.44pts Whiskybase
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 52.1% abv
Whisky Agency Secret Islay 2007
$299.99
Maybe... probably... Caol Ila? But who knows? Either way, sherried Islay malt at a robust bottling strength. Pretty much what everyone is looking for nowadays. Only 180 bottles. 88+points on Whiskybase!
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 53.3% abv.
Big Peat Christmas 2023
$71.99
The 2023 edition of Big Peat Christmas is the first to be finished in sherry casks. 54.8%
Bowmore 40 Year 2023
$15,000.00
Three years in a row of 40-year-old Bowmore releases! We don't have a lot of details on this one yet, but as soon as we know more, so will you. Safe bet, though: gentle smoke, deep and rich tropical fruits, dark teas, and a myriad of beautiful notes only found in wizened old Islay malts. To say we are dying to try this may be the understatement of the year.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 48.7% abv.
Bruichladdich Black Art 11.1
$779.99
The 11th incarnation of Bruichladdich's Black Art series is a 24 year old bottled at 44.1%.
Producer Description
"An enigmatic alchemy which relies on nature, craftsmanship and the gentle passing of time. What happens inside each cask, under the darkness of the warehouse remains a mystery. Black Art 11 continues that elusive mastery. Only Head Distiller Adam Hannett knows what has gone into crafting the precious 24-year-old single malt. The barley and cask type remain a mystery, with the final recipe undisclosed."