This is an interesting one to me. Elements of Islay does a periodic style symbol for each of the Islay distilleries they bottle, and it’s typically obvious. They have a few from Bruichladdich, the Octomore one is Oc, but the Port Charlotte one is somehow Pl. Really any IBs that call the distillery Port Charlotte or Octomore are weird to me, since they aren’t actual distilleries. I think Elements of Islay has a Bruichladdich, an Octomore, and a couple different types of more mildly peated whiskies. I do like that they distinguish the peatedness of the malt used by the distillery, though. Anyway, the distillery is great, their peated spirit is great, and this bottler is well regarded, so I’m excited. Let’s get to it.
Minutia: No information about distillation and bottling dates, but this comes from two Chateaux Margaux casks. Enjoyed neat in a glencairn.
Color: Chestnut Oloroso Sherry, 1.2.
Nose: Intense. Smoky. Musty, briny, smoked fish.
Taste: Briny, smoky fish. Pepper, ramps to big.
Finish: Smoke, peaty, vegetal, salty. Savory.
Guess: Elements of Islay Port Charlotte, forgot the number but PlX.
I think I’m going to start getting these right from now on, or at least very close, due to the amount and array of bottles left in this pool. When I do this next year, I hope I remember to not just rearrange 24 bottles, but just randomly select from what I have, or at least select from a pool of a good deal more than 24. Anyway, another solid hit. This is several in a row now that have really impressed me. As generally not a seafood fan, the smoked fishy part of the taste was just a bit too much for me which hurt its points a bit. It probably also kept the nose down a bit. But boy is that finish strong. If the rest sounds good and the fishy notes are something you actively enjoy, this is a dram for you. The fishy bit is subtle, I will say, but my sensitivity to it probably overestimates its role here.
Score: 87
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