In the latest batch of Elements of Islay bottlings there was this Port Charlotte Pl6 , a combination of 3 bourbon barrels distilled in 2011, bottled at cask strength… of course.

Port Charlotte Pl6 7 yo 2011 (55,3%, Elixir Distillers ‘Elements of Islay’ 2019, bourbon barrels, 1163 btl.)

Nose: coastal sharpness mixed with charcoal and sweet smoke. Linseed oil, beach pebbles, hints of burnt heather and herbs. A tad austere perhaps but there’s a light hint of peach in the background. Mouth: warmer now, with hints of smoked bacon, almonds and gingerbread. More sweetness now, mainly plums and...

I maj have deliberately skipped it in the period of fragrant violet-infused Bowmore, but I don’t think I’ve ever tried this Bowmore 12 Years , the cornerstone of the core range. At least I haven’t taken notes until now.

This is the latest version (2018-2019) with a bigger white label and the age statement in a central black block. A couple of years ago the label was similar but the age statement was at the bottom in a black banner (see my review of the Bowmore 18 Years for instance).

Bowmore 12 yo (40%, OB +/- 2019)

Nose:...

Macdonald’s Celebrated Ben Nevis is a NAS single Maltwhisky originally released as a recreation of the original 19th century recipe that made Ben Nevis famous. That means it is slightly smoky, as most whiskies were back then, even those from the Highlands and Speyside.

Meant to be a (numbered) limited edition, it proved popular (again) so it’s now part of the core range, though sometimes hard to find. Last year the presentation was brought in line with the rest of the range, in the typical dumpy bottle.

Macdonald’s Celebrated Ben Nevis (46%, OB +/- 2019)

Nose: sweet...