Port Charlotte - 2011 PAC-01, 56.1% (WB 89.17)

Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte 2011 PAC-01, 56.1% (WB 89.17)

Type - Single malt whisky
Vintage- 2011
Bottled - 2021
Cask - French Red Wine cask finish
Age - 8YO (stated age) / 9YO (calculated age)
Strength - 56.1% vol.
Content - 700ml

Whiskybase- 89.17 pts (79 votes as at 2021.6.4)

A cask exploration series, this is also one of the more well-received bottlings among many.
Unlike the previous MRC-01 which explicitly used Mouton casks, this one only mentions Bordeaux Pauillac red wine casks.
It was first matured in Bourbon casks for 6 years, then transferred to Pauillac casks for a 2-year finish (?), finally bottled at 40ppm.

As a reminder, Pauillac is just one region in Bordeaux, and it certainly contains many renowned wineries.
However, from supermarket wines to Lafite and Latour, all can fall under Pauillac.
Therefore, using Pauillac casks does not necessarily mean the casks come from a prestigious winery.
Based on PC's track record, WB ratings, and senior tasting notes, the flavors are quite spot on.

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Official tasting note for reference (extract, original text too long)

Nose-
Lots of fresh, fruit aromas mingle with the dry peat smoke to entice you into the dram, from the oak comes spices - cloves, ginger and cassia, along with chocolate, toasted malt with toffee, brown sugar and delicate coconut and vanilla notes.

Palate-
As the first drop touches your tongue a wave of flavours sweep across the palate, the sweetness from the oak and malt lead, followed by smoke, citrus and dried fruit notes.

Finish-
The peat smoke comes through on the finish with a more medicinal phenol style. Coconut and floral notes waver and a saline marine element combine with the earthy smoke in the classic Port Charlotte style. The softness of the oak and the minerality of the spirit become wrapped in smoke, a familiar signature to this dram.