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Everything you need to know about Port Charlotte Distillery
Most popular bottles from the distillery
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Port Charlotte PC12 Oileanach Furachail£189.99 Inc VAT -
Port Charlotte 13 Year Old Cask Whisky Valinch BC:08 2010£159.99 Inc VAT -
Port Charlotte Islay Malt Whisky PC 11 An Ataireachd Ard£269.99 Inc VAT -
Port Charlotte Islay Oak Casks Print Hand Signed by Ian Gray£99.99 Inc VAT
A brief History
Port Charlotte, Islay Region, Scotland. Founded in 1881.
Port Charlotte isn’t a standalone distillery — it’s a heavily peated single malt whisky range produced by Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay. The name comes from the nearby village of Port Charlotte, and it’s used to represent a more traditional, smoky Islay style within Bruichladdich’s lineup.
Bruichladdich itself was founded in 1881, but when it was revived in the early 2000s, the team decided to create three distinct styles: unpeated (Bruichladdich), heavily peated (Port Charlotte), and super-heavily peated (Octomore).
Port Charlotte sits right in the middle. It aims to bring back the kind of bold, smoky whisky that older Islay distilleries were known for, while still keeping a modern approach to transparency and production. The barley is often Scottish-grown, and the whisky is distilled, matured, and bottled on Islay.
It’s a mix of old-school peat and modern thinking.
Taste Profile
 |
 |
 |
| Oaky / Woody | Peaty / Smoky | Sweet |
Port Charlotte is all about peat, but it’s not one-dimensional. The smoke is bold and earthy, often with a slightly maritime edge, but it’s balanced by sweetness and fruit.
You’ll usually notice vanilla and citrus cutting through the smoke, with oak adding structure and a bit of spice. Compared with some heavily peated whiskies, it feels quite balanced — smoky, but still approachable.
Top 4 Flavour Profile Ingredients
|
Oak / Wood Spice |
 |
Citrus (Lemon / Orange Zest) |
|
Peat Smoke |
 |
Vanilla |
Most Popular Bottles
Port Charlotte 10 Year Old
The core release. Heavily peated, balanced with sweetness and citrus.
Port Charlotte Islay Barley Series
Made using barley grown on Islay, focusing on local character.
Port Charlotte Cask Exploration Releases
Various limited editions finished in different cask types.
These releases show how peat can be shaped in different ways.
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The Distillery
The Distiller: Port Charlotte Whisky at Bruichladdich Distillery
Address: Bruichladdich, Distillery, Isle of Islay PA49 7UN
 Open in Maps |
 www.bruichladdich.com/collections/port-charlotte |
 +44 (0)1496 850 190 |
Visitor Centre & Opening Times
Yes — Bruichladdich Distillery is open to visitors.
Typical opening hours
- Monday – Saturday
- Around 09:30 – 17:00
Tours cover all three whisky styles, including Port Charlotte.
Ownership History
Distillery Founded
- Bruichladdich Distillery (1881)
Modern Revival
- Reopened in 2001 by a private group
Current Owner
- Rémy Cointreau
Port Charlotte is part of Bruichladdich’s modern whisky portfolio.
Distillery Facts
Overview & History
Port Charlotte is a heavily peated single malt Scotch whisky range produced at Bruichladdich Distillery on the island of Islay.
The name refers to a lost distillery village of Port Charlotte, which once housed a distillery that closed in the 1920s. Bruichladdich revived the name to represent its peated whisky style, contrasting with its unpeated Bruichladdich range.
Port Charlotte was first distilled in 2001, shortly after Bruichladdich was reopened by a new ownership team focused on innovation and transparency.
Production
- Spirit Type: Single malt Scotch whisky
- Region: Islay
- Peat Level: Heavily peated (typically around 40 ppm)
- Distillery: Bruichladdich Distillery
- Cask Policy: Combination of ex-bourbon and French wine casks
Although Bruichladdich is known for unpeated whisky, Port Charlotte is specifically designed to explore heavily peated Islay style.
Whisky Style
Port Charlotte typically shows:
- Heavy peat smoke
- Maritime salinity
- Barbecue ash and earthy smoke
- Sweet malt and vanilla
- Citrus and fruit balancing the smoke
Compared with some Islay malts, it often combines smoke with noticeable sweetness and balance.
Key Expressions
- Port Charlotte 10 Year Old – Core flagship expression
- Port Charlotte Islay Barley series – Made from locally grown barley
- Port Charlotte Cask Exploration series – Various wine and cask finishes
- Limited and vintage releases
The 10 Year Old is the main reference point for the style.
Significance
Port Charlotte represents Bruichladdich’s exploration of peated whisky within a modern Islay framework. It demonstrates that a distillery can produce multiple distinct styles (unpeated, heavily peated, and super-heavily peated) under one roof.
It also contributes to the preservation of Islay’s whisky heritage by reviving the name of a lost distillery.
Port Charlotte Whisky to Buy
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