Port Charlotte 10 Year Old 2008 Whisky-Fässle

Whisky-Fässle is a German indie bottler, active since 2006 with already quite a few releases on their resumé. This Port Charlotte – from the Bruichladdich distillery – was bottled last year from a single cask that, even after 10 years of maturation, still delivered a malt with an ABV of nigh 63%. I will keep water handy.

On the rather close but very creamy nose it’s a combination of a seafood platter and grapefruit juice, upholstered with vanilla, banana and quince. Not a lot of smoke, in fairness, but surprisingly candy-like after a few moments. The alcohol seems to be perfectly integrated, for this does not burn my nostrils.

The body is full, but again quite soft (well, it’s still a sturdy fellow, but I do not gasp for breath, nor do I feel the inclination to add water). Creamy and sweet on buttermilk , toffee, vanilla and molded wood. The smoke appears intermittently and does not dominate at all. The salty element rears its head once in a while, but this is mostly very sweet. Not much left of the seafood platter bar a hint of smoke trout. This is very good, have no doubt.

The finish is medium long and confirms all of the above. It stars salty on maritime notes and smoke, but then suddenly becomes very sweet on sugared citrus peel and overripe banana.

A veritable enjoy-whisky from Isaly. Okay, I admit, that’s a bit silly, but that’s actually what it says on the label: Port Charlotte Isaly Scotland. Big typo if you ask me, but it does nothing to detract from the contents of the bottle.

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