Port Charlotte 2004 Rest & Be Thankful Rare Collection Collection Foundations 2024 19 yo

 

 

 

59,1°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Oloroso Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co.

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Port Charlotte bottlings over 18 years old are rare, with fewer than 30 in existence today. It was under the direction of Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier that the first casks of Port Charlotte were distilled in 2001, and the first bottling was launched in 2006. 18 years later, it's fair to say that Port Charlotte is a central part of the distillery. This one was launched at the Whisky Live Paris event, as part of the Collection Foundations created by La Maison du Whisky, and reserved for the French market. 250 bottles were released to the world.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, wisps of Sherry settle delicately, ebony wood, brown sugar, charcoal and soot, cooked mushrooms, brown tobacco, fig jam, cinnamon, earthy notes, roasted nuts, melting caramel, ashes in the fireplace, melon, quinces and medlars, dried bananas. Iodine and sea spray, seaweed. On the palate, the same impression as on the nose, it's thick, deep, woody, but also very fruity and supple, with a serious layer of peat in the background, accompanied by some mineral elements, graphite, quartz, candied cherries, blueberry tart, lemon zest, baked apples, meringue, not excessive but intense spices, cloves, black pepper. Very long and explosive finish, charcoal, earth, incense stick, slice of bacon, crushed red fruit, blackberries, redcurrants. Toasted hazelnuts.

 

In Short, 

Another excellent product, it's on a par with this one, which is still on my must-have list. This one is a little less fruity, not much exotic fruit, but deeper and earthier, woody, melting caramel and perfectly integrated peat. It's a masterpiece, and the worst thing is that it's still available to buy, but at an exuberant price. I'm waiting for a promotion worthy of the name.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Helllight - As Daylight Fades

Port Charlotte 2007 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 15 yo

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edtion 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

As former representatives of Bruichladdich, the creators of Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. have always beautiful casks from this distillery. Here we have a Port Charlotte aged 15 years, which has been bathed in a Sherry Butt, resulting in 864 bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fresh and airy peat on the nose, fleshy and vegetal. Dark chocolate with coffee beans, roasted nuts, soft toffee, blueberries and blackberries, muscat grapes, leather, brown tobacco, blood oranges, candied cherries, sandalwood, and a tiny hint of iodine in the background. On the palate, the fruit is heavier and thicker, barely hindered by the peat. It's typical of the distillery, with exotic fruits and chocolate, a few maritime notes, a campfire in the countryside, redcurrants, beetroot, citrus zest, heather, it's even almost vinous. Well-integrated spices, pepper, cloves, nutmeg. The peat returns in the finish, with a good layer of ash, fragrant bark, stuffed figs, then it becomes herbaceous, even medicinal, hazelnuts, floor wax, liquorice, clove, a drop of grapefruit.

 

In Short, 

Excellent Port Charlotte, where the peat is not omnipresent at all, giving way to a deluge of fruit and chocolate, liquorice, sandalwood and spices. In other words, everything you need. I'm sorry I didn't buy it when I had the chance, but now it's completely sold out and can only be found at auction for top dollar.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Mammùt - Salt

Benrinnes 2009 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 14 yo

 

 

 

54,1° 

Distillery : BEnrinnes - Speyside 

Ex-Sherry Butt 

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Rest & Be Tahnkful Whisky was established in 2012, and in their 13 years of existence they've bottled barely 20 casks from Speyside. It's not their speciality, but they do it when they get the chance. Here we have a Benrinnes, distillery which will celebrate its bicentenary next year, and which is well suited to Sherry. And it's just as well, because the cask used here is a Sherry cask, some even say Oloroso. 577 bottles are produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :   

The nose is fresh and airy at first, then the Sherry character comes through, with candied fruit, dried fruit, red fruit coulis, leather, dried meat, varnished wood, cinnamon, dark chocolate. Some cereal and earthy notes in the background. Bark. On the palate, there's also orchard fruit, apples, pears and peaches, but otherwise the red fruits are still there, fresh tobacco leaves, light coffee, macchiato, salted butter caramel, pancakes with maple syrup, not very remarkable spices, cloves, black pepper. Quite a long finish, raisins, vanilla bean, heather earth, full-fat pudding, melting chocolate.

In Short, 

Not bad at all. The Sherry is very pronounced, but it's not a Sherry Bomb for me, there's plenty of nuance and subtlety, and you can feel the character of the distillery in the background. That said, it's very Sherry, I must admit, and it will appeal to fans of that profile. The price varies from site to site, so be careful.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                          Schema - Sorrow

Finglassie 2017 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 6 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : InchDairnie - Lowlands

Islay Whisky Casks, Jamaican Rum Finish

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Medium Peated  

Some time ago I had the opportunity to taste some Strathenry, the unpeated version from InchDairnie, a young distillery in the Lowlands that opened in 2015, and I liked it. Here we have a Finglassie, the peated version. I wrote Medium Peated because it didn't seem to me that the peat was strong, no more than 25 ppm and maybe less, but I wasn't given any indication of that. To reinforce the peaty character, the distillate was matured in casks that had previously contained Islay whisky, before being finished in Jamaican Rum casks. 3720 bottles have been released for sale.

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is quite airy and mineral, with a slight medicinal touch. Slightly damp smoke. Sleet, roasted cereals, slate and quartz. Soon enough, tropical fruits join the dance: pineapple, candied lemons, mashed banana. Cane sugar, a hint of vanilla. On the palate, orange blossom, puffed rice, birch bark and a slice of bacon. The spices are softened by the influence of Rum, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves. The finish is fairly long, but remains conventional, fresh, full of lime, a few notes of sea spray and iodine, a pinch of salt.

In Short, 

It's nice, fairly well done. In principle, I'm not at all a fan of Rum cask ageing, but here it works. That said, I'm not crazy about it either, you just have a good time. You can still find it at a decent price on certain websites.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Black Market Karma - Adoration

Bruichladdich 2013 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 10 yo

 

 

 

62,5°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Barrel

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottledd in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Upeated

 

Since they were founded in 2012, Rest & Be Thankful have certainly released a record number of bottlings from Bruichladdich, as its managers are former representatives. Here we have a 10 year old that has undergone a simple maturation, in a Bourbon Barrel. 274 bottles were put on sale.

Let's Taste It : 

Waxy bourbon, beautiful intensity, full-bodied iodine, vanilla, mirabelle plums, all sprinkled with a good dose of lemon. Behind it, you can recognise the distillery's profile: wheat, pineapple, various cereals, dry earth. Litchi, white grapes, papaya. Honeyed palate, young wood, spices present from the start, peppermint, cumin, genepi, but very discreet. Violent finish, not exceptionally long, peanut butter, soft breadcrumbs, it's well malted, with a touch of vanilla and Chantilly cream.

 

In Short, 

There's nothing like a Bruichladdich aged in Bourbon casks. This is where you discover all the qualities of this distillery, with nothing to mask its flavours. Personally, I love it, and I think this one is particularly good, with just the right amount of fruit, cereal and hints of farmhouse. As for the price, it's relatively reasonable, and you can still find it on certain websites, which I think would be a good idea.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Brad Graves - Are You Ready To Go?

Bruichladdich 2009 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 13 yo

 

 

 

59,8°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Ex-Pauillac Red Wine Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

As the trading company Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. was founded in 2012 by former representatives of the Bruichladdich distillery, they bottle a lot of casks from that distillery. Here we have a 13 year old matured in a red wine Hogshead from the Pauillac region, a very famous Bordeaux wine area. It doesn't say which château supplied the cask, which means it's definitely not a Château Lafite. 310 bottles were crafted, after maturing for precisely 13 years, 9 months and 26 days. The sale is reserved exclusively for the European Union market.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Macerated fruits, it's syrupy, almost gooey. Bottom of a bottle of amarena. Then it moves more towards red fruits, damsons, even raspberries. With vinous, woody, caramelised hints. Grainy whiffs in the background, wheat and a touch of citrus, pineapple. After a while it becomes really complex. Finely chopped brown tobacco, cooked butter, honeysuckle. On the palate, it's simpler, wood soaked in treacle and caramel, a few spices, liquorice, nutmeg. Quite a long, relatively explosive finish, damp bark, vegetable moss, hot chocolate, hazelnut coulis. Arabica coffee.

 

In Short, 

The nose is really good, but on the palate, I didn't find that the maturation worked very well. The distillery's hallmarks are sidelined, in favour of winey fragrances without much consistency. It's still a pleasure to drink. Perhaps best reserved for fans of Bordeaux wines. The price is quite high, no tax haven in the European Union.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           A.A. Williams - The Echo

Port Charlotte 2009 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 14 yo

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Back to basics with this Port Charlotte aged in a single Bourbon cask, which allows the distillate to retain its full identity. This cask, numbered 1263, is reserved for the European market. The number of bottles produced is unknown.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very soft, airy, ethereal, iodised, the peat is well integrated, powerful and yet barely noticeable. It's honeyed, with vanilla and white fruits, melting caramel, toffee, lychees and banana. On the palate, the honey becomes liquid, syrupy, almond paste, barley sugar, genoise, and then intense spices, cloves, pepper and cardamom. Some ash in the background, but it comes through very well. The finish is long, explosive and slightly cereal-like, with vanilla and cut hay, raw chestnuts, hazelnuts and a zest of lemon.

 

In Short, 

Very successful, even a little better than I expected, but lacking in exotic fruits. I particularly liked the fact that it wasn't too aggressive but well balanced, even though the peat was strong. However, I think I prefer my Port Charlotte in a Sherry cask, but that's a matter of taste. I didn't get any indication on the price, but I like to think it's more or less reasonable. The problem is finding the bottle, available nowhere apparently.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Why - Soul Declares                                    

Bruichladdich 2004 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. Collection New Vibrations 18 yo

 

 

 

55,2°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Ex-Sherry Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated  

Echoing the 20 Year Old I mentioned yesterday, which was aged in a Bourbon cask, this 18 Year Old was aged in a Sherry cask. This makes a total of two complementary bottlings, both launched as part of the New Vibrations collection, of which La Maison du Whisky is the depository.

Let's Taste It : 

Beautiful, elegant Sherry, with blueberry jam, jellied blackberries, fermented blackcurrants, some charcoal hints, varnished wood, quince purée, elastici and leather, smoked ham in the background, with a few cereals. On the palate, red fruits in profusion, syrupy and liquorish, slightly rancio, then a bit candied, with beautiful spices, nutmeg, cinnamon, cardamom. The finish is long, intense and explosive, charcoal and liquorice, black berries, a touch of tar and curdled blood.

In Short, 

An intense and very fruity Sherry, very successful, very pleasant. What's more, it's interesting because it doesn't have the same profile at all as the 20-year-old, which was salty and iodised. There's nothing costal here, just a few cereals, and it's mainly fruit that dominates. Sherry-aged Bruichladdichs are rare, but I'd tasted two magnificent ones from Archives, this one is just excellent, which is already something. Unfortunately, the price is simply ridiculous, and relegates this bottle to oblivion, which is a shame.

Score : 90

                                          To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           New Trolls - The Seventh Season

Bruichladdich 2002 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. Collection New Vibrations 20 yo

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Bruichladich - Islay 

Ex-Bourbon Cask 

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Single Cask 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

This 20-year-old Bruichladdich, aged in a single Bourbon cask, is also part of the New Vibrations collection, which will be sold exclusively on the French market, in particular at La Maison du Whisky. Remember that the founders of Rest & Be Thanfful Whisky are former collaborators of the distillery, and have a special relationship with its employees. 272 bottles of this nectar were filled.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Airy, iodised nose, with a lovely sea breeze and a hint of salt. Vanilla and lemon join the dance. Mineral hints. After a while, the cereals come through: cut hay, muesli, roasted wheat. On the palate, still vanilla, but also orchard fruits, green apples, Conference pears. Quartz and slate. Spices arrive with green plants, damp grass, walnuts. The finish is rather explosive, powerful but not extremely long, with light honey, liquorice and cereals. Chestnuts and puffed rice.

 

In Short, 

A surprisingly mineral and salty Bruichladdich, a lovely originality. The rest is well balanced. This is a remarkable product because of the rarity of its profile for this distillery. On the other hand, the price is too high in my opinion, which is a shame.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           The Revivalists - Wish I Knew You

Strathenry 2016 Small Batch #2 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 6 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : InchDairnie - Lowlands

Ex-Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Finish

Independent Bottling  

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Totally Unpeated 

InchDairnie is this young Lowlands distillery that started distilling in December 2015 and is beginning to make a name for itself. It markets two types of malt, peated under the name of Finglassie, and unpeated under the name of Strathenry. This one is aged for 6 years in Bourbon casks before being finished in Butts of Oloroso Sherry to give it depth. Launched as part of the Small Batch #2 collection, 3265 bottles are being released.

Let's Taste It : 

Airy and ethereal on the nose, with a hint of iodine, but it seemed to me mostly pastry, whipped cream, mille-feuilles, vanilla custard, but also fruity, with orchard fruits, and a bit cerealy, herbaceous. The cereals assert themselves on the palate, with cracked wheat, malted barley, almonds and lime. Some spice, but nothing overpowering. The finish is well done, explosive without being exceptional, with tall herbs, reeds, bamboo, vanilla milk, egg white and cloves.

In Short, 

I liked it, it's quite original. It's young, but not too much so. On the other hand, the Oloroso finish must not have been long because I didn't smell much. All in all, a unusual and well-made whisky. What's more, the price is very attractive, so give it a try if you haven't already. By the way, it's already sold out on several websites, which is a sign that it's popular and the value is rising.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                                     Phum Viphurit - Hello, Aniety

Port Charlotte 2001 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 13 yo c. R091600007

 

 

 

64,6°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay 

Sherry Butt

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Company 

Limited Edtion 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2015

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm  

In 2015, Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. has only been around since three years. But this is already their 5th Port Charlotte bottling, since their founders are former collaborators of the distillery. The brand having been launched in 2001, at the time it was the oldest Port Charlotte in existence. Having spent 13 years, 9 months and 3 weeks in a Sherry cask, it was divided into 709 bottles before being launched into the market.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The Sherry is very measured, you can hardly recognize it, it's just fruity, with orange, plum, juicy pear, elastic and nuts. Behind, a beautiful ashy smoke, perfectly managed, on a layer of rocky peat. Fuel oil, motor oil, it's almost sweet. On the palate, it's balanced, the peat is quite strong but allows the fruit to pass through, more from the orchard, not really exotic. The spices are quiet, It's easy to drink despite the high alcohol content. Nice finish, long and perfectly mastered, ashy and damp earth, burnt wood, dark chocolate. A pinch of coffee powder.

 

In Short, 

A classical Port Charlotte, which expresses  its exuberance without being bothered by Sherry. It is a very good whisky. What surprised me is that the alcohol is perfectly integrated, and the spices quite calm. It promises good times if you are able to find one of the last copies, still lying around in some European shops, at a slightly exaggerated price, even for the rarity of the product.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Violent Soho - Dope Calypso

Port Charlotte 2004 Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. 17 yo

 

 

 

59,7°

Distillery : Bruichladdich - Islay

Sherry Hogshead

Independent Bottling 

By Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Company 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 40 ppm

 

 

 

Founded in 2012 by former representatives of the Bruichladdich distillery, the trading company Rest & Be Thankful Whisky Co. has maintained strong ties with it. This is why this almost 18-year-old Port Charlotte, distilled in October 2004 and bottled in September 2022, is an important step in their journey. Ageing is done only in a Sherry Hogshead and the number of bottles produced is not disclosed. La Maison du Whisky, which sells it exclusively, has granted to it the Antipodes label, for a reason that seems obvious once you have tasted it.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Soot and tropical fruits, papaya, kiwi, kumquat, passion fruit, fuel oil and gas oil. Beautiful iodized breadth, tobacco, dried fruits, grapes and apricots, full ashtray. The peat is thick and intense. Red berries, raspberry coulis, gooseberries. Vinous, very fruity and ashy palate. Mango, Muscat grapes, juicy peaches and pears. Quite robust spices, paprika, turmeric, nutmeg, cardamom, cumin. Heather. Underground lake, some rocks. Finish which flies away, never-ending and explosive. Red fruits, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants, charcoal shards, wormwood. Nuts.

 

In Short, 

A masterpiece, and for me the summit of the last Whisky Live. A bottling to have absolutely if you are a fan of the genre, and I admit that I am. The price is terribly high, but despite that, I think about it.

Score : 91

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Angus and Julia Stone - Yellow Brick Road