2010 Bruichladdich Port Charlotte OLC:01 Heavily Peated Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

Besides being a Port Charlotte (which will be reason enough for some to grab this), it's also a 'series first', so collectors may pre-empt drinkers. Released as part of the Cask Exploration range, OLC:01 was distilled in 2010, and then rested in a combination of Bourbon, Syrah and vin doux naturel casks. In 2019, it was transferred to Oloroso sherry hogsheads for a final 18 months ageing. While the final ABV reads like cask strength - and it essentially is - the Bruichladdich website says they add spring water when bottling. It must be minimal given it's 55.1%. All sold out in the UK, this will be one of the few buying opportunities in Australia. Expect a complex balance of dried fruit sweetness, oily nuttiness and citrus among the fragrant peat smoke.

Other reviews... Shoreline aromas, with lime, caramel, and sweet peat. Mildly medicinal, with coffee grounds. The palate offers Jaffa oranges coated in earthy peat smoke, with pipe tobacco and black pepper. Licorice, cocoa powder, dried fruits, brine, and drying peat in the finish.
90 points - whiskyadvocate.com, reviewed by: Gavin Smith 2020

...The cask-bill is extremely complicated here. 40% 2nd fill American oak, 30% 1stfill American oak, 25% VDN and 5% 2nd fill syrah, then a 18-month finish in oloroso. Holy featherless crow, that's marquetry! We're almost at Prowein or Vinexpo. Colour: deep gold. Nose: oh, the syrah coming out and… I am joking. It's a fine, smoky, peaty, bready malt, perhaps not with a lot tension and responsiveness, but we're fine with this unexpectedly fermentary nose. In short, no straight vinous notes. With water: cow stable and fermenting grass and cherries. Something like that. Mouth (neat): the spirit is strong, so it would stand and hold anything. As a matter of fact it starts pretty well, with nice touches of raspberry wine (perhaps) but then there's this spicy fruitiness (Schweppes and Fanta) that feels a bit out of place. With water: sameish. Finish: pretty long. Bread, raspberry eau-de-vie and ashes. Comments: a very unusual proposition. I would understand this set-up on Bruichladdich, less so on a heavy peater. Take my palette and give me a bottle of the stunning regular PC 10 for it, and we'll be friends forever. 84 points - whiskyfun.com