THE AWKWARD TRUTH For too long Islay has been exploited by those seeking to trade on the cachet of its name. It's become a badge to add credibility and value, with increasingly fragile links to the reality of the island. Islay has become a flavour profile not a provenance, with distillers importing barley from outside Scotland, then shipping spirit off the island to mature in undisclosed mainland warehouses. What does it really mean to be an Islay single malt? For the makers of Port Charlotte single malt, it means commitment to Islay, investment in place and people, it means that everything must happen on the island and in the community. The whisky must be a true expression of the land, the culture, the people. OUR ISLAY REVOLUTION The makers of Port Charlotte are rooted in the culture and community of Islay. Of nine distilleries on the island, they are the third smallest producer but the largest private employer. Over 80 of the company's employees are based on the island. This means something. From the outset it has been their ambition to create the highest provenance Islay whisky. There are easier places to make whisky. There are easier methods and processes and its cheaper to build warehouses on the mainland. But they are not interested in easy options. Port Charlotte single malt is conceived, distilled, matured and bottled only on Islay. AN ALTERNATIVE ‘ISLAY' Port Charlotte single malts are peated to a heavyweight 40PPM. Trickle distilled through tall, narrow necked still, the resulting rich and aromatic spirit has all the power of peat with the elegance and finesse for which the stills are famous. Port Charlotte spirits are matured all their life in the distillery's warehouses on the side of Loch Indaal, meaning they gradually respond to the sea air and unique seasonal changes of Scotland's west coast. Each cask is carefully watched over by the team, before being bottled in the Harvey Hall, using Islay spring water. Port Charlotte single malt explores the complexities of natural whisky, through barley provenance, cask influence and the passing of time. It is living proof that the distillery's values are rooted in provenance, authenticity and transparency.