Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Year Old

Bruichladdich Port Charlotte 10 Year Old is the heavily peated expression from Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay — produced entirely on the island from conception to bottling, at 50% ABV without chill filtration, and peated to approximately 40ppm phenols, placing this single malt firmly in the heavily peated category alongside Ardbeg and Lagavulin.

Port Charlotte is a separate expression line within the Bruichladdich portfolio, distinct from the unpeated Classic Laddie core range. Where Classic Laddie showcases what Islay spirit tastes like without peat, Port Charlotte demonstrates what Bruichladdich's distillery character does with heavy peat — the result is an Islay single malt with genuine coastal complexity, not just smoke. The 10 years of maturation in first-fill American oak and ex-wine casks add citrus, vanilla, and stone fruit that sit alongside rather than underneath the peat.

Bruichladdich is independently minded — acquired by Rémy Cointreau in 2012 but operated with significant autonomy — and maintains an unusual level of transparency about its production. At 50% ABV, this is a bottle that rewards water and proper glassware. Browse the full Bruichladdich collection at Wooden Cork.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Coastal and complex — medicinal peat, sea salt, citrus zest, vanilla, and smoked lemon curd
• Palate: Rich and warming at 50% — dry peat smoke, salted caramel, stone fruit, and a maritime mineral backbone
• Finish: Long and smoky with lingering sea salt, citrus peel, and a persistent peated warmth

Specs

• Distillery: Bruichladdich, Rhinns of Islay
• Region: Islay, Scotland
• Age Statement: 10 Years
• Cask Type: First-fill American oak and ex-wine casks
• Peat Level: Heavily peated, approximately 40ppm phenols
• ABV: 50%
• Filtration: Non-chill filtered, natural colour
• Size: 750ml

Explore the full Scotch whisky collection at Wooden Cork.

Frequently Asked Questions

How peaty is Port Charlotte compared to Ardbeg and Laphroaig?

Port Charlotte at 40ppm sits in the same heavily peated tier as Ardbeg 10 (approximately 55ppm) and above Laphroaig 10 (approximately 35–45ppm). The style is different — Port Charlotte is more citrus and coastal, Ardbeg is more medicinal and dry, Laphroaig is more iodine-forward — but all three are serious peat expressions.

Is Port Charlotte different from Classic Laddie?

Yes — significantly. Classic Laddie is unpeated and showcases Islay barley and terroir without smoke. Port Charlotte is the heavily peated counterpart from the same distillery, showing what Bruichladdich's character does with a 40ppm peat specification.