2012 Bruichladdich Port Charlotte IBHP 'Islay Barley Heavily Peated' Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Islay, Scotland

Inspired by an entrepreneurial flair and a youthful enthusiasm, the Harvey brothers began construction of the Bruichladdich (pronounced brook-laddie or broo-lah-dee) Distillery in 1881. The brothers were descendants of a dynastic whisky family — their ancestors had already owned distilleries in Scotland for over a century. Today, Bruichladdich Distillery (Bruichladdich means "rocky shore" in ancient Gaelic) remains situated on the shores of Loch Indaal on the island of Islay, and continues to use much of the original equipment installed by the Harvey brothers to craft a range of single malt whiskies that are trickle distilled, matured, and bottled on Islay. The modern Bruichladdich Distillery is known as the most experimental and adventurous of the Scottish distilleries, implementing revolutionary, modern interpretations of time-honored ideas and challenging the comfortable conventions of a whisky establishment. Rejecting the onset of modern automation and homogenization, Bruichladdich's Head Distiller, Adam Hannett, only considers production methods that place the quality of liquid above everything else. Bruichladdich Port Charlotte Whisky is made exclusively from heavily peated barley from the Inverness Shire region. After the grains are milled and mashed, they are fermented in the distillery's original washbacks, which are made of Douglas Fir. The wood from the washbacks absorbs heat generated during fermentation and allows for a longer, slower fermentation process compared to steel, resulting in a more flavorful and rich whisky. After fermentation, the wash is distilled twice through Bruichladdich's 130-year-old, 20-foot tall, diamond-shaped stills. The 2012 vintage of the Port Charlotte Heavily Peated Islay Single Malt was crafted with 4 barley varieties: oxbridge, publican, propino, and concerto from the 2011 harvest, coming from 8 farms. As the name suggests, it's a heavily-peated whisky with 40ppm (phenol parts per million). The maturation consisted of first-fill bourbon barrels (75%) and second-fill wine casks (25%). Bottled at a hefty 100 proof, it's a balanced smoky, briny, zesty, fruity, and sweet expression. Grab this fantastic Islay whisky today!