I loved being able to experience this Port Charlotte! Fabulous. I wish it was still available. We still have a bottle but it's still unopened. I think it's time to open it up, have fun and share as my husband and I always do! That's the fun with delicious scotch! We don't get the Port Charlotte tins locally. I have never seen one here in Vancouver. I tend to be okay with that for the environment. The less the better with packaging. Just my thoughts! Big environmentalist here. So glad we still have a bottle!! Huge Port Charlotte fan! Love the comparison! I'd grab more if I could. I definitely got more peat in the older expression and I do prefer it. Despite the changes I still love the newer expression. Change is a part of life! I agree it would be great if Port Charlotte went back to this quality for this expression. I never disliked the new Ten year old. Loved it and I appreciate it. Great thoughts Shane! Cheers! 🙂
I'm glad that you're able to do this comparison too. It's an interesting one with a huge change in both distillery character and cask recipe IMHO. It would definitely be nice if Port Charlotte released a 5yo bourbon matured PC... I think they would rightly see it as cannibalising sales from Octomore X.1 though 🤔 I'd love to see a 5yo bourbon matured Kilchoman come back as well. Everyone is rightly trying to up age statements, but with peated malts you do lose something when you stop making the young stuff too. Cheers 🥃
Lovely heartfelt review -- thank you for sharing a trip down memory lane. I have fond memories of Nikka 10 and Macallan 12 and 18 which I first tried and enjoyed in 2005.
Ah Japanese whisky. A few years ago Japanese whisky was the king of value for money. Some truly amazing stuff for not too much money. I hope the quality returns to where it was soon... but we all know that prices never seem to come back down once they've gone up 😬 Cheers 🥃
I found this gathering dust on a small Greek islands, small alcohol shop last year for 35pounds! They're both good whiskies but quite different whiskies like you've said. Onwards and upwards, always nice to try new stuff, especially when they're good!
Thanks - really interesting. I love the PC10 - it’s in the running to be my favourite Islay - and never got to try the old one. As you say an unusual direction - a relatively high ABV with heavy peat doesn’t “need” the age statement. I suppose as you say, the newer iteration stands out more among other Islays. It’s a pity we can’t have both!
Thanks for reviewing this Whisky, great review. I have a bottle of this one and the Islay barley version, need to sit down and taste them again. Cheers!
I really love your reviews, the style, details, excellent nose and overall vibes are unique; keep it up! As for Bruichladdich, I’ll be honest - I’m not a fan. I have tried my PC10, the unpeated one and two Octomores; they are very good don’t get me wrong, but I tend to find Ardbeg 10 or Uigeadail/Corryvreckan exceptional in comparison, that’s just my taste buds (plus my wallet feels terror nowadays close to a Port Charlotte). I know the following statement is probably going to cause me some trouble, but I find the NAS and full of colour Ileach cask strength, a much more intriguing tasting experience, than the bloated priced PC…
Thank you very much for the kind words 🙏 Ardbeg 10 is a really hard act to follow IMHO. I'm not sure if anything gets close to it in terms of value and quality for money. It's one I always go back to. Cheers 🥃
I got an older Port Charlotte around 2018. (Not Scottish barley) It was my first "more expensive" whisky. I paid 65€. By comparison Laphroaig 10 was 30€, Caol Ila 34€ and Lagavulin 54€. IMO the best i ever had. Of course i've evolved a lot since then and it's based on my memory but my tastes haven't changed and i can remember very well an older Lagavulin being much better too compared to the crap it's become. The New PC10 however i like. Different but in a good way. As you said it's a complex and unique offering.
Compared to Laphroaig 10 and Lagavulin this PC rocks. Which is why for a while it was my peated dram of choice 👍 Lagavulin 16 badly needs some attention. With a little improvement it could even be worth the asking price. Until then I'm really enjoying the 8yo. Cheers 🥃
My first and only interaction with this malt was in a 20cl tasting pack when I was getting into whisky. Absolutely tried my best to find a bottle (outside of auction sites) and although it's been listed, it's Islay barley that always turns up. It gets sent back and returned. Shame really. I saw one on the shelf at Bruichladdich (as they do all around the ceiling shelf) but out right flat NO for buying it 😂 Actually prefer this Scottish barley to the PC10. Although the PC10 is good, it has alot more wine fill out influence for me. The Scottish barley is more on my flavour profile and maybe its true it can be substituted by a good IB Caol Ila. Really do miss this one
Ah the ceiling shelf collection 😂 I remember that. They even offered to buy back a couple of my old dusties to put up there but I bought them to drink 🙂 In absolute terms I prefer the old NAS to the new PC10 too. But the new PC10 is certainly unique and it's starting to grow on me. Cheers 🥃
as newb who first tried whisky during covid period, envy the palate experience the early adopters might have had when everything wasnt about sales rather craftsmenship (though i do understand distilleries are not charity). making things worse, due to broken tax system here in korea the old bottles sky rockets as many illegal flippers eant to resell for profit..
It's very frustrating when you're just trying to appreciate whisky as it was intended and flippers are getting in the way of that to make a quick buck. Whisky for drinking not investing! Cheers 🥃
I loved being able to experience this Port Charlotte! Fabulous. I wish it was still available. We still have a bottle but it's still unopened. I think it's time to open it up, have fun and share as my husband and I always do! That's the fun with delicious scotch! We don't get the Port Charlotte tins locally. I have never seen one here in Vancouver. I tend to be okay with that for the environment. The less the better with packaging. Just my thoughts! Big environmentalist here. So glad we still have a bottle!! Huge Port Charlotte fan! Love the comparison! I'd grab more if I could. I definitely got more peat in the older expression and I do prefer it. Despite the changes I still love the newer expression. Change is a part of life! I agree it would be great if Port Charlotte went back to this quality for this expression. I never disliked the new Ten year old. Loved it and I appreciate it. Great thoughts Shane! Cheers! 🙂
I'm glad that you're able to do this comparison too. It's an interesting one with a huge change in both distillery character and cask recipe IMHO.
It would definitely be nice if Port Charlotte released a 5yo bourbon matured PC... I think they would rightly see it as cannibalising sales from Octomore X.1 though 🤔
I'd love to see a 5yo bourbon matured Kilchoman come back as well. Everyone is rightly trying to up age statements, but with peated malts you do lose something when you stop making the young stuff too. Cheers 🥃
Lovely heartfelt review -- thank you for sharing a trip down memory lane. I have fond memories of Nikka 10 and Macallan 12 and 18 which I first tried and enjoyed in 2005.
Ah Japanese whisky. A few years ago Japanese whisky was the king of value for money. Some truly amazing stuff for not too much money. I hope the quality returns to where it was soon... but we all know that prices never seem to come back down once they've gone up 😬 Cheers 🥃
Love that this is a happy place! I enjoyed those releases. It is long gone around here though. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Long gone here too! But not forgotten. Thanks for joining me 🥃
PCH my favorite ,, 10 yo and 2013 yammee )))) Good review Shane . Slainte !
Such an instructive comparison and helps us appreciate what's on offer today. Thanks for sharing, Shane! Cheers.
Thanks 🙏 and Cheers 🥃
I found this gathering dust on a small Greek islands, small alcohol shop last year for 35pounds! They're both good whiskies but quite different whiskies like you've said. Onwards and upwards, always nice to try new stuff, especially when they're good!
Nice find. It is so very, very different to the new PC10. Cheers 🥃
Great comparison. Thanks for your opinion 😊 can't wait to open my 1st pc10
Enjoy!
Thanks - really interesting. I love the PC10 - it’s in the running to be my favourite Islay - and never got to try the old one. As you say an unusual direction - a relatively high ABV with heavy peat doesn’t “need” the age statement. I suppose as you say, the newer iteration stands out more among other Islays. It’s a pity we can’t have both!
Thank you for sharing this piece of history with us!
Thanks for watching Andrew 👍 It's certainly changed a lot over the years.
Thanks for reviewing this Whisky, great review. I have a bottle of this one and the Islay barley version, need to sit down and taste them again. Cheers!
It's great to keep a few dusties on the shelf for looking back on. Enjoy! 🥃
I really love your reviews, the style, details, excellent nose and overall vibes are unique; keep it up! As for Bruichladdich, I’ll be honest - I’m not a fan. I have tried my PC10, the unpeated one and two Octomores; they are very good don’t get me wrong, but I tend to find Ardbeg 10 or Uigeadail/Corryvreckan exceptional in comparison, that’s just my taste buds (plus my wallet feels terror nowadays close to a Port Charlotte). I know the following statement is probably going to cause me some trouble, but I find the NAS and full of colour Ileach cask strength, a much more intriguing tasting experience, than the bloated priced PC…
Thank you very much for the kind words 🙏 Ardbeg 10 is a really hard act to follow IMHO. I'm not sure if anything gets close to it in terms of value and quality for money. It's one I always go back to. Cheers 🥃
I got an older Port Charlotte around 2018. (Not Scottish barley)
It was my first "more expensive" whisky. I paid 65€. By comparison Laphroaig 10 was 30€, Caol Ila 34€ and Lagavulin 54€.
IMO the best i ever had.
Of course i've evolved a lot since then and it's based on my memory but my tastes haven't changed and i can remember very well an older Lagavulin being much better too compared to the crap it's become. The New PC10 however i like. Different but in a good way. As you said it's a complex and unique offering.
Compared to Laphroaig 10 and Lagavulin this PC rocks. Which is why for a while it was my peated dram of choice 👍
Lagavulin 16 badly needs some attention. With a little improvement it could even be worth the asking price. Until then I'm really enjoying the 8yo. Cheers 🥃
I like what you said towards the end “style “ vs “ quality “
Good analogy.
Now if they could give us a PC18 exbourbon @ $300!!!🤣
Cheers 🥃
That is the dream! 😌
I didn't get to try the old one but I love the new one
Two very different malts but luckily they kept the same quality 👍 Cheers 🥃
My first and only interaction with this malt was in a 20cl tasting pack when I was getting into whisky. Absolutely tried my best to find a bottle (outside of auction sites) and although it's been listed, it's Islay barley that always turns up. It gets sent back and returned. Shame really. I saw one on the shelf at Bruichladdich (as they do all around the ceiling shelf) but out right flat NO for buying it 😂
Actually prefer this Scottish barley to the PC10. Although the PC10 is good, it has alot more wine fill out influence for me. The Scottish barley is more on my flavour profile and maybe its true it can be substituted by a good IB Caol Ila.
Really do miss this one
Ah the ceiling shelf collection 😂 I remember that. They even offered to buy back a couple of my old dusties to put up there but I bought them to drink 🙂
In absolute terms I prefer the old NAS to the new PC10 too. But the new PC10 is certainly unique and it's starting to grow on me. Cheers 🥃
another interesting review Shane. Well-done.
Cheers Andy 🥃👍
Love your reviews! Do you think you will be reviewing the new Bruichladdich 18?
Thanks! Yes I plan to. I have a bottle - not opened yet. Watch this space 🙂
A very balanced take
Cheers Simon 🥃
2:46 bastard to open 😂….fingernails…how true it is
😂 the real reason why Bruichladdich dropped the tins! 😒
as newb who first tried whisky during covid period, envy the palate experience the early adopters might have had when everything wasnt about sales rather craftsmenship (though i do understand distilleries are not charity). making things worse, due to broken tax system here in korea the old bottles sky rockets as many illegal flippers eant to resell for profit..
It's very frustrating when you're just trying to appreciate whisky as it was intended and flippers are getting in the way of that to make a quick buck. Whisky for drinking not investing! Cheers 🥃
😊😊