New Release: Port Charlotte 2004-2015 11yo Official for PUB Mahorobi's 38th Anniversary #850 57.6%

Port Charlotte may be the best in its history. Port Charlotte PORT CHARLOTTE 2004-2015 11yo OB for PUB MAHOROBI 38th Anniversary #850 57.6% one of 263 bottles, Fresh Barrel The aroma is powerful and stimulating, with lemon, strong cereal notes, vanilla, savory seafood stock, minerals, and a sharp, intense peat. When drinking, it's spicy with a powdery, condensed texture, grapefruit, savory cereal flavors, refined sweetness and good acidity, sharp and strong peat, oily with a long finish. [Good/Very Good] This Port Charlotte 2004, aged for 11 years, was bottled by PUB Mahorobi in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, to commemorate their 38th anniversary. Usually, cask selection is done by tasting samples after aging, but this release was selected at the stage when the new make was filled into casks. It is common for distilleries like Nikka, Kilchoman, and Arran to sell casks during their early establishment periods. Is this also the case for Port Charlotte? The aroma retains a slight youthfulness, being stimulating and spicy, with a vanilla-like note from bourbon casks, savory seafood stock typical of Islay malts, and a distinctive sharp smokiness. When drinking, the spicy nuances are strong, but there is a powdery, condensed grapefruit-like nuance reminiscent of good Laphroaig, and the savory cereal flavors are also impressive. The balance between sweetness and acidity is good, and the peat presence is as strong as in the aroma. While there is some oiliness, I did not detect a machine-oil-like nuance often found in recent Bruichladdich new make. I also purchased an Ardmore cask with friends, but since the whisky's aging outcome after filling is uncertain, there's a gamble involved. In fact, many released whiskies that were tasted do not reach the quality level worthy of single cask releases. However, this bottle, as noted, was filled into the best casks by Jim McEwan, suggesting it aged in a good bourbon cask. It is a straightforwardly delicious Islay malt. Particularly, the powdery condensed sensation reminiscent of good Laphroaig was very impressive, and I might consider this the best Port Charlotte I've ever had. I haven't visited Mahorobi yet, but I understand they are acquainted with Campbell's master and it's a great shop. Congratulations on your 38th anniversary. I hope to visit the store someday.