Port Charlotte 11 Year Old 2001 Malts of Scotland Rioja Hogshead

When this bottle was first introduced at the Limburg Festival in Germany early 2013, it had a printing error on the label. It read bourbon barrel, while the whisky had in fact matured on a Rioja hogshead. Rioja is a well-known wine produced in the north of Spain. La Rioja is even considered the most prestigious wine region in Spain. There are white, red and rosé Rioja wines. It matured for at least one year on oak barrels. This Port Charlotte matured for 11 years on such a Rioja wine cask.

Hmm, the waxy nose is bursting with typical PC traits. Salt, smoked ham, cow hide, wet rock, a bonfire on the beach. I am also reminded of salted caramel (just had a macaroon with that filling). Underneath is still a heavy dose of sweetness in the shape of almonds, caramelized orange peel and green grapes. Mustard seed?

On the palate, it starts with a huge smokiness, sweet peat and then smoked fish, sprinkled with some lemon juice. The sweetness is then suppressed somewhat, but still reveals some fudge. It evolves from salty to really brackish. Liquorice and pepper too.

In the long, salty finish, some sweetness lurks behind the smoke.

This is an extreme fellow with a sweet side, thanks to the Rioja cask. Powerful stuff!

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