„Legacy“ Port Charlotte 21 years 59.3% Bourbon Cask Matured 02/23 McNeills Choice #1156

Whiskybase ID: WB249436 / Tasting Video (Speakeasy Whisky Club) / Tasting Video (Friendly Mr.Z)

International buyers: Please read https://celtic-events.de/en/international-buyers

No Vikings. No mythical creatures. No sexy women. No gold. No silver. No dye. No dilution. No filtration. No finish. Classic, authentic and straight from the cask, the Port Charlotte 21 is Andy McNeill’s oldest own cask, his legacy. At 21 years old, this Port Charlotte is one of the oldest bottled casks of its kind. The color is impressive, as is the alcohol content at 59.3%. Here we have old school Islay enjoyment from the ex-bourbon cask, at cask strength and 40ppm. „Port Charlotte“ is a peated variant of Bruichladdich. Distilled: 08.11.2002 / Bottled: 09.11.2023 / Cask No. 1156.

Quotes and tasting notes from the tasting of Port Charlotte 21 „Legacy“

Nose: Leave time in the glass! On first sniff, immediately dusty, sweet attic smeared with acacia honey. Soft, fine, subtle smoke of tobacco and crispy bacon with a drizzle of maple syrup. There is an elusive, fresh sweetness in the air, of lychee, melon and After Eight mint. Over time, we sense hints of other spirits, rum, sake or dessert wine. On the herbal level, we find sage in butter, grated nutmeg and sweet thyme. Late on, we catch a welcome breeze of sea spray, salt and wet moss after a summer rain. A dram for the whole evening. „Oh my god, it is making me cry.“ With water, the smoke comes more to the fore. Impressions of freshness: mountain air, sea air, spring water. It is noticeable that the tropical fruit acid aromas (pineapple, passion fruit…) that one longs for in old ex-bourbon maturations now emerge.

Palate: Tingling on the attack, very sweet and spicy at the same time: cinnamon, cayenne, hickory & honey, caramel, vanilla. Then finally comes the peat smoke and campfire, with bacon, roasted coffee beans and white pepper. Strongly flambéed crème brûlée at the edges of the tongue. A wonderful balance between sweetness, smoke and the most delicious wood you’ve ever had in whisky. „Captivates all your senses without overburdening them.“ Teak rolled in tobacco leaves, buttered, caramelized and garnished with a fingertip of sea salt. The 59.3% is intense, present, powerful, but not sharp or disturbing. Of course, such percentages invite experimentation with water. As on the nose, the smoke becomes more present on the attack without losing its sweetness. Pickled sushi ginger replaces the white pepper. Caramelized apple and agave syrup. Pecans and peanuts now add to the earthiness. Brutal salivation sets in.

Finish: Long-lasting and sweet and sticky throughout the mouth. Warming rushes from the throat to the tip of the tongue. Earthy smoke, acacia honey and umami. The lychee sweetness from the nose is very present again. Even with water, the interplay of sweetness and smoke remains very balanced. Even whisky enthusiasts who have no great desire for peat will be delighted with this. With the addition of water, the direct wood aromas become somewhat weaker.

Andy McNeill has been a legend at German whisky fairs for decades – thanks to his expertise and charm. Based in the picturesque town of Aschaffenburg, Andy also organizes his own whisky fair in the beautiful Aschaffenburg Castle: the Whisk(e)y Pur Festival in the last quarter of each year. Born in Scotland, Andy specializes in high-class, independent bottlings and has a certain weakness for Islay whiskies. With his own label „McNeill’s Choice“, Andy sells hand-picked whiskies, which he usually refines himself in various casks after importing them to Germany. His company Celtic Events is now run as a family business together with his son and brings bottlings from the Vintage Malt Whisky Company, in particular „The Cooper’s Choice“, to Germany. „Legacy“ Port Charlotte 21 years 59.3% Bourbon Cask Matured 02/23 McNeills Choice #1156