This American-oak-aged Bruichladdich has been further matured in rare Jerez butts that for decades held the unctuous and ultra rich sherry, made from the moorish Pedro Ximenez grape.
The solution demands a complex cask management system. Although all of the spirit in 08.4 is eight years old just 20% has been held full-term in virgin oak. 80% was originally introduced to American oak, first-fill ex-Bourbon casks, before being transferred into the European virgin oak that had previously held Octomore 07.4.
The autumn of 2010 was wet and windy. A late harvest saw Octomore farmer James Brown facing heavy losses from greylag geese and herds of wild red deer, resulting in a precious little yield. Malting the this Octomore grain produced results that were unprecedented, the readings came back at 309.1ppm. The nature and variety of Octomore depends on far more than simply number, but these were staggering. Following a carefully controlled trickle distillation, this uber-provenance spirit was matured in 56% first fill Bourbon casks, the remaining in ex-Paulliac, Ventoux, Rhone and Burgundy casks.
Port Charlotte PC7, distilled in 2001, bottled in 2008 when 7 years old. Limited to 24000 bottles. Jim McEwan: “The peaty flavour is rich and vibrant reaching deep onto the palate accompanied by dark warm molasses with hints of dates and bitter chocolate. The second layer brings the moorland mossy flavours bringing complexity and contrast, weaving beautifully with the smoke, and then the marine breezes add their unique freshness, lifting the senses on an updraft of the Queen of the Hybrides. The history and culture of an Islay in the palm of your hand”.