Review: Bruichladdich Port Charlotte SYC:01 2013

Bruichladdich’s Port Charlotte brand loves to explore cask finishing, particularly red wine barrel finishes. The latest from the Islay icon is Port Charlotte SYC:01, which was released in the UK last fall and is now making its way into the U.S. This whisky marks the first time the heavily peated Islay spirit has matured in Syrah casks (these from France’s Rhone Valley) – “a popular red wine known for being bold, fully bodied, rich and luxurious.”

Some details on this 2013 vintage release:

Bottled at 54.4% ABV and malted to 40 PPM, the 2013 Port Charlotte spirit was initially filled into a combination of first fill (75%) and second fill (25%) bourbon barrels. In 2018 the spirit was re-casked into first fill Syrah wine casks. After four years, and with the wine influence now at its peak, the spirit was refinished in refill bourbon casks to allow the flavors to marry.

We got the chance to give it a try. Thoughts follow.

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte SYC:01 2013 Review

Red wine casks are popular finishing casks with Port Charlotte, and here they work remarkably well. The nose doesn’t immediately connote the syrah, but rather doles out aromas of cinnamon sticks, spiced raisins, baked apples, and roasted chestnuts — all very holiday friendly and quite exotic. It is, of course, paired with a modest peatiness, which comes across like chimney soot, with a light maritime bent.

The palate is just as agreeable and exciting, featuring very similar notes on the tongue. Complexities emerge beyond the apple cider and Christmas cake theme, though, as some more savory elements come into focus with a little airtime. Green olives are particularly evident, followed by a light note of teriyaki beef jerky. It’s back to fruit-driven notes soon enough, though. Strawberry leads the way to the finish — quite a surprise — along with just a hint of mint.

Throughout it all that a vein of wood smoke, ever so slightly vegetal and salty, drives things forward, giving the finish a kind of smoky chocolate vibe.

Port Charlotte kills it with this one with one of my favorite expressions in years. If you like your peat with plenty of fruit and spice to back it up, SYC:01 is a bottle to seek out.

108.8 proof.

A / $150

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