ralfy review 959 - Port Charlotte 10yo @ 50%vol

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[@jameseverett9035]

The quality of the video and how you re-arranged the bothy is great Ralfy. Happy New Year to you and all fellow malt-mates

[@hinzuzufugen7358]

Wonderful. Thank you. After long, years, 4 or 5, back to Ralfy. Bought this Whisky in May 2023 without knowing it had been Ralfy-reviewed before and just finished the last drop - ahhh. Only Laphroaig is over it.

[@Glaikit-gype]

The Port Charlotte Heavily peated is a great whisky, one of my top 10 of all time.

[@deanuemura8061]

Thanks Ralfy for 2022, and looking forward to 2023! The Port Charlotte 10 became my favorite a year ago, overtaking Lagavulin 16.

[@jamesboddington9565]

Living in the single malt wasteland that is Thailand I was very happy to see BKK airport had it in duty free. It's an absolute beauty. Thanks Ralfy!!

[@ianhumphrey7218]

I fully agree this is a great whisky, what I couldn't believe is that I bought a bottle of this for my Dad for Christmas, so I got to taste this once he had opened it on Christmas Day. 😁

[@a_z.tazzzfan8497]

Too funny 😂 Earlier today, my manager & I were discussing different Bourbon's & Scotch's. Just sent him the link to this vid since he mainly talked about Islay & he replied back that he watched it earlier today. We've never discussed KZbinrs so I had no idea we watched some of the same Tuber's 😂

[@problemwithauthority]

Ralfy, you picked my favorite with Port Charlotte. From the first dram I knew I wanted more, and headed back to the store for a few bottles while I can still afford it. Very good choice indeed.

[@buffdogg]

This is the most accurate review of this whisky. Such an absolutely beautiful whisky. It's my number 1.

[@ConcaCon]

It took me a second dram to get it, but once I did... I'm grateful this stuff exists, it's lovely, rich and so charmingly characterful. At ~55-60 EUR, it's not a cheap whiskey, but the stellar quality merits the price. I can't argue with the rating, either.

[@jezhellewell7690]

If Ralfy likes it & I can afford it, I buy it! Arriving on Saturday. Can’t wait…

[@bluesmanen1]

My absolute favourite Islay malt at the moment, a quite fantastic dram, cheers

[@markmacknight9709]

Outstanding dram. Can often be had on amazon on sale for just under 40 quid which is bonkers value for a whisky that good.

[@BDECornFlake]

One of my favorite scotches and hard to beat at the price. It is becoming a little less common around me since more people are buying it which makes me happy but it does mean I pick some extra up to keep a few in stock.

[@FerNightwalker]

I am glad to hear such good opinions and sensations of this expression that I enjoy so much. One of the few Islay labels that are available here, and even at a price that has jumped, it's a whisky that I plan to re-stock. I like this new angle in the video 👌The best for you in this 2023!🙌.. Cheers from Paraguay. 🥃

[@MrLachlanmackenzie]

Thanks Ralfy, another one that is already on my shelf and that aim looking forwards to.

[@AlReyn]

Off to a bang in 2023 Ralfy with a great new jacket and a tasty phenolic whisky. Happy New Year to you, I wish you good health & happiness

[@snail415]

Malty metalheads! Love all you’ve done for so long, Ralfy. Been there nearly since the beginning, and owe a lot of my wisdom to what you’ve imparted. Cheers.

[@Onoelo23gf]

Great choice, Ralfy, to set foot into 2023. Greetings, maltmates. May your senses never fade. This is truly an exceptional whisky that brings out the Shylock in me. I willingly share my Ardbegs but slide under the radar when this name comes up.

[@canal-do-guga-namura]

Sipping my Port Charlotte 10 as I watch this again, this whisky is simply amazing. The 1l version popped up a couple weeks ago so I got one too. My PC10 deserves a back up.

[@Dionisis_malt]

Hey Ralfy I am Dionisis from Greece i started too presenting malt and i created before some days a channel because you inspired me you made me appreciate and you taught me about malt (not for the amount but for the quality) i want too much tasting this smoked that I haven’t yet tried it. Thank you very much for all the precious knowledges you share with us!

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . happy to share the malt-moments.

[@dribsanddrams]

This was the last whisky I reviewed in 2022. I made it my whisky of the year. And hey, I love the new angle in the bothy!

[@BradMiller007]

My favourite Islay distillery. This bottle and the Octomore’s are my go to whisky’s along with Glen Scotia.

[@prestonw3878]

Love this bottle.. I would like to know more about how the shape and size of pot stills affect the flavor of the spirit. I hope one of these new distillery go for stills similar to Lagavulin and Macallan so we can get some nice tasting robust whiskys.. Many American single malts distillery use more industrial looking copper pot still as opposed to the traditional Scottish style, and I'm curious about the factors influencing the whiskys.

It affects the new make spirit (freshly distilled spirit which will become a whisky with age) a lot when it is distilled. Do make a research on the parts of the still and you will find out how every single part affects the spirit. The shape of the still, angle of the lyne arm and the speed of running the still majorly affect things like reflux which can make a new make spirit lighter or heavier. I could talk about it for hours but it is a very interesting process to learn by yourself and you will see how literally every single small thing affects the final result. It explains a lot why two different distillers cannot probably make the same spirit😂

[@WhiskeyFancies]

@ any recommended books for this research? Thank you.

[@westleighevans5128]

I am sorry you picked this as whisky lol of the year. Not because it does not deserve it but because it is one of my favorite all time whisky’s. It is purely a selfish claim on my part and I hope this does not cause a shortage of it over hear in the states!!! You did a wonderful job on the review as always. While we have some wonderful bourbons here I tend to like Scotch or good Irish. We also have some tasty rye whiskey over here also. I may have to pick up a spare before they get scarce here.

[@911JB32]

Thank you, and immediately ordered the Port Charlotte 10yo at my favorite whisky store, based in Rotterdam. 😉

[@lilord3000]

I have this bottle and the Classic Laddie in my whisky cabinet. Usually I'll have one dram of Laddie followed by one dram of the Port Charlotte and enjoy it every time.

[@MrJREllman]

Thanks Ralfy. I took a chance on this as I usually go for sweet whiskies. But I'm very pleased with this. Seems to be a really good blend of several flavours that give way to each other very obligingly.

[@canal-do-guga-namura]

My bottle arrived this week, had a couple drams yesterday for the first time. Simply stunning! I was seriously blown away. I had tasted the Laphroaig Portwood a few weeks ago... and yes, I know there's no port in this... and it's probably not as similar... but it really reminded me of it. I could nose this for days. Excellent stuff. IMHO this is absolutely better than Laphroaig 10, Ardbeg 10 and Ledaig 10. I need to try others of their line up now!

[@stevengallery5561]

A medicinal dram, a cross between Caol Ila & Ardbeg, isn't what I was drinking in an Edinburgh bar last weekend! Had a choice of over 50 malts and opted for Port Charlotte 10, as it's Ralfy recommended and malt of the year. Stale and definitely no peat smoke, hugely disappointed and doubt what came from the bottle was Port Charlotte! I'll need to buy a bottle to get the experience... 🥃👍

[@johnbradshaw7525]

I bought an interesting bottle of a mystery 15yo Islay single malt, 46% ABV, natural colour and non chill filtered. Its Mac-Talla Strata from Morrison Distillers & it was £63.00 from Masters of Malt. Its a rather good dram. Its thought to be Caol Ila or possibly even Bowmore. I'll definitely buy another bottle of this.

[@Valera_Scotland]

Just got this to try.... along with Ledaig 10, this may become a favourite. Thank you for educating us Ralfy, and introducing to these wonderful super stars 💖

[@NicolasMD85]

My dear friend, I wish you good health, clear mind, and peace in your heart in 2023. I'm glad to see your first review of the year, I'll make sure to put this bottle at the top of my humble bugget list for 2023. To your good healt, cheers!

[@jabbahursty]

you just kill it, ralfy. i have never been steered wrong by you!

[@RevADavidGriffin]

"And [that] malt-mates, is marvelous!" 👍🏾

[@haromaster6086]

You sir are helping me understand and enjoy Whisky properly. This has very quickly become my favorite channel! Well done sir and thank you.

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . your welcome.

[@Norris_84]

Another great vid and featuring one of my favourites. Port Charlotte definitely in my top 3. Thanks Ralfy, 2023 is off to a great start.

[@Brad-ic4bp]

I went out and picked up a bottle the same day you posted the video of this as your pick for the year. I'm still enjoying it, even though I'm not a fan of most peated scotches. And I love the bottle itself.

[@ic3105]

Thanks Ralfy. Your books, I just finished the „search for a bothy“ and I liked it a lot, and your videos make a perfect combination. I like Port Charlotte, but also Ardbeg Uigeadail won me back recently. Cheers. Ingo

[@fdhtownsen]

I've never had the pleasure of Port Charlotte, but I'm now on the hunt. I really enjoy a good peated whiskey, so it's always good to hear of something remarkable and available. Thank you Ralfy and God bless.

[@davet7185]

PC10 and a new jacket for the New Year.....it doesn't get much better than that! Great review Ralfy - now heading off to watch that side-by-side 'Extras' 😁👍.

[@rupertansell4662]

When I opened the bottle and poured my first dram of this I wasn’t 100% sure whether it was for me. I initially found it a little challenging. Subsequently each time I have gone back to it I find it’s really grown on me and now I am a huge fan. It’s a very interesting and complex whisky with bags of character. Although heavily peated, it’s well balanced and not at all overwhelming. I will definitely be buying another bottle before the current one runs out. Another great review Ralfy!

[@johnrountree370]

One of the overall best whisky reviews ever!

[@mrpositronia]

Thanks Ralfy. I'm always amazed at your taste buds. I know it take time to get there. I'm an audiophile, and if I were to discuss hifi qualities to the same detail, I'd be getting comments saying I'm only hearing the details because I want to justify the cost of the equipment, but of course, these would be people who haven't experienced those differences for themselves, or haven't tuned their ears to pick out the subtleties. Anyway, keep up the excellent work and look forward to seeing what you have in store for 2023!

[@Josh_2976]

I got given a bottle of this for Christmas. It truly exceeded my expectations. Went down a treat with all my whisky drinking friends who were round on Hogmanay.

[@DJMJRyder]

I agree with you on most of the experimental cask series not being worth the extra money over the standard 10, but the MRC was the best official bottle Port Charlotte has ever released

[@KLFmumu]

Ralfy, Port Charlotte has been one of my faves for the last few years. Belter.

[@andyb9664]

So it went up 4 points 🥳 You gave it 86 5 yrs ago. Definitely a very good review again and an amazing whisky, I had a bottle in 2018, and have to admit the contents disappeared very quickly 😀

[@whiskyonthewestcoast]

Happy New Year Ralfy, glad to see Clivey Clicker is alive and well. The PC 10 is Excellent, well worth the accolades. While younger, the PC Islay Barley expressions are very enjoyable for even more Bruichladdich signature, however they show their youth. All the best in 2023!

[@l.s.1709]

You mentioned medicinal, iodine, ash, sweet & sour slight savory and umami. I am getting a lot of savory/umami combined with round ripe fruite sweetness: my main association is sweet marinade barbecue meat. Compared to other islays, this is sweetere and the least ashy. Maybe this is indeed the difference between batches.

[@markwilson6107]

Hi Ralfy. Finding your videos very, very useful in my fledgling whisky journey. Has helped me experience some great tasting stuff. Certainly a more educating experience than my younger days of Grouse and Ginger or ‘gulping’ single malt and getting big hits of alcohol without the real taste. Would love to know which whisky’s jump through your magic malt mark of 90. Could be a ralfy review of its own. To all the Malty Magicians of Mordor have a great 2023

[@xfoolsgoldx]

Wild Turkey 101 is my favourite wisky. I have paid up £90 for various whiskeys but I'm very happy happy to stick with the 101 as my tegular whisky. Love the channel 👍

[@blackn7150]

Tried adding a splash of Rittenhouse to your 101 buddy? Learned that trick from Ralphy and was very impressed with the results.

[@xfoolsgoldx]

@@blackn7150 Cheers for the tip👍

[@elduderino3120]

Managed to get my hands on PC10 recently for my birthday and I have to say I am in love with this whisky. Such a nice surprise when something lives up to the hype (and the price tag - a little over my usual budget but well worth the money, so I'll have to ration it). A wonderful dram, hope the quality never diminishes.

[@elduderino3120]

…following your advice & observations, although I’m not even halfway down the bottle, I decided to stock up on 2 more before any inevitable price-hikes. Fantastic stuff!

[@STVG71]

Thank you for this additional review! I bought a bottle of this a couple months ago and it has been sitting in my basement waiting until I finish off a bottle upstairs to make room. I'm really looking forward to this one. Cheers!

[@ivanthetolerable]

It’s interesting that you said not one word about wine cask aromas/flavors. From the Bruichladdich website: MATURATION PROFILE: 65% first fill American whiskey casks, 10% second fill American whiskey casks and 25% second fill French wine casks This is just as I found it in March 2022. This information might be dated, possibly referring to a batch preceding the bottle you purchased. I noticed a somewhat assertive, yet pleasant Bordeaux flavor in PC 10 I had purchased in August 2021 (bottled April 2021), which was an improvement on the subdued, less complex & more barley-driven bottle from a 2018 batch. Then, somewhere between April and August 2021, batch production dates, the peat smoke, the red wine maturation contribution, the marine minerals, and the ginger notes seemed to wash out a bit, with a bitter, grassy note towards the end. I tried a 2020 bottling, and it held a middle ground. I have yet to try a late 2022 bottling of PC 10, because of 2 or 3 washed out batches, and also because I bought a couple bottles of 9 (+)yr PC SC 2012. Another great review, but I can’t help noticing the similarities with the Bunnahabhain 12 CS review and score: non-stop, unequivocal praise bordering on superlative, and a 90 for a mark. Has there been a across-the-board recalibration? I still recall a score of 93 for a Buchanan’s 12 year blend.

[@florin_doru]

I’ve missed you, Ralfy. Good to See You Again !

[@timkoeshall9325]

Wonderful! I enjoyed a dram of the same with you. Thank you for elevating the experience and sharing. Cheers!

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Thanks Ralfy I was lucky to buy two bottles in 2021… thoroughly enjoyed the first and will hang onto the second for now. An excellent whisky with some English Latakia pipe tobacco, especially those crossover mixtures with some sweetness and smokiness. Kindest regards and Happy New Year. Ciao 👋 S.

[@robfut9954]

$65-$85 where I am in the US. It seems a lot of smaller distilleries are hamstrung by distributors in the US who price the bottles a LOT more than you see in the UK. Not a good look for the distilleries.

[@amauridiaz2609]

Great scotch. One of my favorites. Great job Ralfy

[@robclucas855]

Thank you for the review and recommendation Ralfy. I've been enjoying the Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013, 8 year old, 50% abv at the moment so I'm looking forward to the 10 yo which I just acquired today. And I'm also enjoying your first book with the other 2 on order. I'm inspired to start a whisky club as I ease towards retirement. I enjoy all you do. Cheers from Woodbury, Minnesota USA

[@Atthapong15]

Happy New Year to you, Ralfy! I've acquired your 3 books and will certainly begin to to savour them over a fine dram of the PC10 😉

[@thewhiskybothy]

. . . thanks for buying my books !

[@stevenreay7286]

Happy New Year Ralpy . Just bought two bottles. One ,Port Charlote and one Classic Laddie . Looking forward to my malt moments with these beauties. All the best ..

[@davidcoleman157]

Excellent choice Ralfy. Very enjoyable dram.

[@sundowner62james69]

I've got a 200 ml bottle of this , which was one of 3 bottle mixed pack . Not being a peat fan , it's been in a cupboard for 5 years . After watching this great video I'll be giving it a try . Great work , thanks Ralfy.

[@mofoqa]

Hey Ralfy. Happy New Year! Please enable Closed Captioning on your videos for malt mates who are deaf or Hard of Hearing.

[@kevinbartlett9499]

Happy new year Ralfy. I'll be checking into your videos once Dry January is done and my liver is partially repaired 👍

[@grahamokeefe9406]

"Caol Ila-Ardbeg hybrid" is an excellent way to describe this. I love this stuff!

[@jackwilson4284]

I highly enjoyed the bottle I Bought a couple of years ago, and it's been right at the top of my re-buy list for a while now

[@Greedman456]

Happy new year!! The journey is long and we need the company!! You also started with my favourite peated rn!! (Glenlivet nadura heavily peated is a close second, still waiting for a review, very different from the other mainstream bottlings). Cheers from Greece!

[@garynapolitano1270]

From 626 to now, it seems like the new owners are doing right by the product.

[@brownwaterboys8304]

A new year is here...and a new Ralfy Jacket is here :D HAPPY NEW YEAR RALFY!

[@heatherharrison264]

This one is on my radar. The next time I have room in my collection for a peated whisky (which should happen soon, as I have a bottle running close to empty), this would be a good choice.

[@emiliojimenez1015]

Greetings from Mexico! Seeing your reviews from the very start of the year is reassuring. PC10 is in my opinion one of the best (if not the best) whisky se can get in here. I hope they import more quality single malts (non-chill filtered, natural colour, at lesst (46% ABV). Have a worderful year!!

[@baka3489]

Port Charlotte 10 is arriving on Thursday and surprisingly the price hasn't gone up yet 👍

[@cade5400]

Excellent review, Ralfy! I agree with your assessment of Port Charlotte 10 yr. It was the first single malt I ever purchased and has remained one of my favorites. For the price, I would choose it every time. I also agree about the limited editions, they aren’t worth a significant mark up from the tastings I’ve had with friends. I may still grab a bottle to sit with it for a while if I can find a good price on one. Cheers!

[@Tomerus_NL]

Ralfy I'm a patreon on a budget. I got this bottle for my bday. I put 5ml of Port Charlotte to my 25ml dram of Tè Bheag. Guess who learned me this. This way the bottle lasts me around 6 months (when very diciplined) Tastes amazing 😊 thank you.

[@WhiskyNotesCS]

For me one of the best 10yo Peated Whiskys. 👍🏼🔥🥃

[@steveh.3370]

Just bought this bottle a few days before your review. Haven’t opened it yet. Ralfy, happy new year from Texas.

[@alexanderhardarson]

I knew I just had to get a bottle after watching your review, and not the first time that has happened, thank you for that. So I just got one and I'm very much looking forward to open and enjoy it.

[@GWDH19]

I like the Kilchoman Sanaig way more than this one. Why haven't you reviewed that whisky? 😋

[@angusfheames]

Always on the shelf - great quality/price/ABV combo. Proper distillery

[@mark5ization]

Happy New Year, Ralf dear! Good rearrangement of camera angle/position. Now we can see more of that famous wall and make out the contents of your shelves much better. (Is that the newer of the "old" Teacher's or the newest one, that rather disappoints? 😟)

[@Pew7070]

The best peated for the money. Even after paying $100 for a bottle. I’m, like you, at my second bottle but I just finished my first. And like you I enjoyed it so much. Honestly it wasn’t a surprise when you made it whisky of 2022. That bottle deserves it.

[@adamcroft80]

I recently brought my first bottle of PC10 at the airport. After having a few drams over a week or 2 can say it’s nice pour. It’s probably wont be my go to Smokey whisky as I personally prefer Ardbeg but If your looking to get into islay then it’s a good choice.

[@rudytrimarco5623]

Superb whisky. Unfortunately my cork broke down very quickly and some parts dropped into the whisky!

[@simonsherratt1484]

Wild Turkey Rare Breed is a bourbon well worth reviewing Ralfy, it's available in the UK - not sure about Isle of Man though

[@Kinshasa9200]

agreed! stateside, it's one of the better distilled spirits value propositions out there. nicely balanced flavor profile (I dislike how many bourbons are one-dimensional vanilla and apple pie bombs) with lots to mull over while sipping.

[@SaltyCuban]

I’d love to hear you do more comparisons when reviewing malts. It helps the visualization . Great video as always. Btw, a solid and loud YES to the monthly live stream. Trying to make it to my first one. My time schedule is not exactly the best to watch them (Florida). Thanks for the review. Ps Thankyou btw for having the foresight to keep the value of your malts at the forefront. By all means enjoy the good stuff and share with us. That said many of us are in for a rough ride in regards to the prices and I’m guessing that a good amount of malt mates will be looking for the hidden gems and unexpected and non pretentious value scotches in the coming years while braving this world economic crisis.

[@jerrkyd]

After Ralphy's review Port Charlotte 10 went from about $63 to $85 and it's very difficult to find now. Positive reviews are a double edge sword. Good for the distillery, bad for the consumer.

[@jimmclachlan5941]

Port Charlotte is one of the best peated islay whiskies that I've tried and the fact that it's matured on islay rather than being distilled then shipped of to the central belt is another plus for this great whisky.

[@marcwhiskey]

Maybe decided my drink for tonight. Have loved PC10 as my top Islay malt. I won at auction a PC 8yr PAC 01 2011. Can't wait for it to arrive so I can give it a go.

[@glytch5]

I certainly do not have Ralfy's pallet, but I have been drinking whisky and watching along for over 10 years. This one didn't quite do it for me. it is certainly a well presented whisky, but calling it "heavily peated" I think is a little in accurate. Laphroaig cask strength is what I would consider "heavily peated" It is nicely ashy though I completely agree with that!

[@PeterTea]

Happy New Year to my favorite whiskey commentator! Keep up the good fight!

[@bobi-gr]

Happy New Year! Stay healthy Ralphie, and keep taking us on this journey called : whiskey! Can you have subtitles?

[@bobi-gr]

KZbin hasn't uploaded subtitles yet, can you check?

[@stevechurchill4474]

$76 in South Carolina yesterday. I love me some Port CLT.

[@terrortower666]

Great malt to start the year! Love the new jacket Ralfy

[@JR-nl3mh]

New annual Jacket. Lovely.

[@philliprobertlawman2232]

This and Kilchoman Machir Bay are my go to's 👍

[@VagaBohn]

That malt mention was hilarious

[@rosendoderobles2065]

Thank you for reviewing this peaty single malt.