The third release of the cult Port Charlotte Islay single malt whisky has been bottled.

Distilled at the Bruichladdich distillery in 2001, this third version was bottled in October 2008 at  seven years of age from the same inaugural vintage stocks.

The American oak matured  spirit,  now a year older,  has a natural cask strength of 61%, the ‘trickle distilled’ whisky becomes more compelling with each bottling.

The limited release of PC7 allows connoisseurs to follow the evolution of a new, heavily peated Islay whisky by direct comparison with the earlier  PC5 and PC6.

Controversially, again the one whisky has six tin designs celebrating the broader community’s contribution, an integral part of the unfolding Bruichladdich story.

Jim McEwan, head distiller: “There was a furore amongst collectors when we paid tribute with PC6 to the men who actually distilled the whisky.

“With PC7 we recognize the stalwarts who help us out, who have steadied the ship through the many squalls we’ve encountered on our journey so far.

“The hard-working people who answered the call, with out them, and others in our community, we would have struggled longer and travelled less far.

“We offer them our gratitude and heartfelt thanks: sin an doigh Ileach - “it’s the Islay way” - and may it never change.”

Port Charlotte, first distilled in 2001, is rated in a qualitative league table alongside Port Ellen (est. 1821) and the legendary Laphroaig (est. 1815).

Despite it’s youth, the quality ingredients, slow distillation, premium casks and natural bottling have earned this new whisky many plaudits in just 3 years.

PC5  out-performed whiskies 30 years older in the biggest blind tasting of 2007. And is rated in the world’s 25 best spirits of 2008 by Wine Enthusiast.

PC6 won Best Whisky under 12 Years and Best New Whisky (out of 1027 candidates) with a rating of 96.5% in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2009. (See “Orgasmic PC” Blog entry).