Port Charlotte 2002, 20 year old Bourbon Barrel

Port Charlotte 2002, 20 year old Bourbon Barrel

The 49th release from Dramfool is a 20 year old Port Charlotte fully matured in a first-fill bourbon barrel for 20 years.. A stunning whisky that shows how a quality first fill bourbon cask can integrate with the heavily peated Port Charlotte spirit.

We are delighted to release one of the oldest Port Charlottes ever released, the first 20 year old Port Charlotte from 2002. In fact we are releasing two of them! By pure chance we acquired 2 casks filled on 10th May 2002 and both will be bottled on 11th May 2022 at 20 years old. These are the first bottlings to bear the “Jim McEwan Legacy” stamp of approval, and we are delighted to release these special bottles at Fèis Ìle 2022.

Tasting notes by Jim McEwan

Port Charlotte 2002

Cask Type - Bourbon Barrel

Cask No. 86.

ABV - 58.7%

Colour - Golden Honey. Light Amber Hue

Aromas - Opens on a combination of peat fire embers and toasted oak with a marine overture leading into the malt extract. Given time the spiciness from the bourbon cask lingers gently and works brilliantly with the peat smoked barley. It’s assertive and the Islay character is undeniable.

Palate - It’s here that you experience the fruity notes of apple and pear held in a cradle of oak and smoked malted barley. Add the marine overture from the Atlantic Ocean which is a stones throw from the Distillery constantly delivering a marine mist into the Warehouses and happily accepted by the oak casks. It’s this coming together that truly highlights the character of this unique hand crafted spirit and the skills of the dedicated team who continue to follow the same skills handed down to them by their forefathers.

Finish - The aftertaste is magical, the Islay character is warm & welcoming as the people who made it!