BRUICHLADDICH DISTILLERY
PORT CHARLOTTE 18 YEAR HEAVILY PEATED
2026 LIMITED EDITION SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
ISLAY, SCOTLAND
Only 8,000 bottles. That's all Bruichladdich made of their Port Charlotte 18 Year Old 2026 edition. But rarity isn’t all this smooth-drinking beauty has got going for it. This heavily peated Islay single malt (40 PPM), made entirely on Islay, possesses one of the most intricate maturation profiles you're ever likely to find.
This is no standard "put it in a barrel and wait” bottling, folks. And it’s not every day you see a whisky from Islay with an age statement like this.
Master Blender Adam Hannett and his team have orchestrated a genuine symphony here: 40% first-fill bourbon casks; 20% that started in second-fill sherry before spending five years in first-fill Rhône Valley red wine casks and then two more in second-fill bourbon; plus varying proportions of second-fill sherry, virgin oak, and refill casks.
The complex result (distilled in 2005 and bottled at 52.3% ABV) is craft whisky for people who actually care about craft, as opposed to mass-market gimmickry or Instagram-friendly collectibility. It’s also a reminder (as if we really needed one) of why bottles in the Port Charlotte series have become so increasingly hard to find.
The peat is here, but the blend is so expertly managed that the smoke enhances rather than dominates. Tropical fruits hit first on the nose, followed by wood smoke and warming spices intertwining with intriguing notes of honeycomb and apricot. Give it time and other associations call to you: honeysuckle, a whisper of fresh linen, walnut and oak. On the palate, it's remarkably smooth and rounded for the proof, with aromatic wood spice and bonfire smoke coating your mouth alongside caramelized brown sugar. There's an undercurrent of cinder toffee sweetness, and we love the way it takes you on a journey (now earthy leather, now charred oak, now roasted almond) before that signature Port Charlotte peat smoke reveals itself. The finish brings sweet citrus and vanilla custard before ending on a note of smoldering peat and sea breeze.
And know this:
Many Islay distilleries import barley and ship their spirit to undisclosed mainland warehouses to age. Not here. These casks mature in warehouses on the side of Loch Indaal, exposed to sea air and the unique seasonal changes of Scotland's west coast, before being bottled using only Islay spring water.
This degree of care and consideration ... this insistence on the truths of time and place … this is what you taste in every sublime, characterful sip.
Our allocation is limited, sorry to say. With only 8,000 bottles worldwide and Port Charlotte's growing collector base, these surely won't stick around. So secure yours today … and prepare to be transported.
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer only valid in CA, CT, FL, MA, NV & TX. This offer will expire on Sunday, January 11, 2026.