Port Charlotte 2002 14 YO Single Cask Nation

Port Charlotte 2002 14 YO Single Cask Nation, 60.2 %

This is a release from independent bottler Jewish Whisky Company (JWC). It was distilled in November 2002 and bottled in September 2017. It was matured in a single 1st fill ex-Oloroso hogshead (cask #1142), which yielded 264 bottles. Those were 750 ml bottles as this was a release for the US market.

Nose: Semi aggressive nose. It does nibble a bit - but it is all charming - no blood drawn. Not overly peaty up front. Big notes of toasted oak, dates and slightly burnt bread crust. With time sweet, heavy sugary notes - or perhaps sherried honey. Further time reveals green notes as well.

Taste: Very big, very here and now. Attention grabbing. Grape juice, peaty pepper, ginger, smoky vanilla. toasted oak.

Finish: Medium to long finish. Intense, deep, dark and bloody mysterious now. This could have been a peated Black Art release. Wine notes, sherry notes, weird dunnage warehouse notes, peaty, smoky, vegetable notes.

Comment: Wow! Bloody mysterious in a darn fine way!

Score 91/100

Cheers for the generous sample, Stephen!

Sláinte!
-Thomas