Jim McEwan Signature Collection 1.2 Port Charlotte 2007, First Fill Bordeaux barrique, 13 years

Jim McEwan Signature Collection 1.2 Port Charlotte 2007, First Fill Bordeaux barrique, 13 years, 60.9%

Distilled on 26th October 2007 this whisky spent its whole 13-year life maturing in cask #RO8/152-12. Maturation taking place in a 1st fill Bordeaux red wine cask. But as you would expect for a McEwan selected cask it was more than just any Bordeaux cask, it was a Pomerol cask. Considered amongst the rarest Appellation within Bordeaux this tiny corner of the region has sprung to fame in a relatively short time.

Bottled in February 2021 as Release 1.2 of the Jim McEwan Signature Collection, like all bottlings within the collection, it was bottled un-chill filtered, with no added colour and at natural cask strength of 60.9%, it yielded only 299 bottles.

Jim’s tasting notes;

Opens beautifully on peat smoke and coastal wildflowers; sea pinks, purple heather, wild lilies and riverbank marigolds, all held beautifully in a cradle of French oak. Then the sweet crispiness of the malted barley emerges and is accompanied by lighter notes of ripe plump grapes, which slipstream in on a coastal marine overture of blowing sand and crushed seashells. Add a splash of water and it changes in a heartbeat to notes and flavours of Turkish Delight, all cocooned in a cradle of oak, smoke and sea spray.

At once graceful and brawny, it boggles the mind as the wine influence tries valiantly to tame the West Coast Islander, born of the sea, with its smoky character. After withstanding the tempest, the succulent sweetness of the Grand Cru wine emerges beautifully like a sunrise after the storm, bringing a sophistication and serenity to the senses. It is a classic case of beauty and the beast and there are no losers; the finish is long and lingering, with the palate swinging into Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World”. And with this spirit in your hand, it sure is!

One of my top creations for sure!