Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Kilchoman
Average price: € 90.00
Official website: kilchomandistillery.com
Vote: 90/100
Eleventh edition of the whisky made entirely from raw materials from Islay, from a distillery that has made of the territory (and craftsmanship) its flag.
A popular annual series, whose composition changes from year to year, this September 2021 edition used the barley harvest (local, of course) from 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011, producing a distillate poured into 26 ex-Bourbon barrels and 7 ex-Oloroso Sherry casks for a minimum of nine years.
Tasting notes
Rather sweet and affable peat on the nose, with a sour and citrusy accent on damp, marine smoke which is accompanied by soft notes of vanilla, cereal biscuits, plums and honey. Red fruits on the length with herbaceous tips. The balance between rough and persuasive tones is impeccable, allowing different nuances to be picked up with each approach.
In the mouth it confirms the balance between the souls on a nice unctuous body, accentuated spice at the mouth (ginger, black pepper, paprika) that enhances the coastal and smoky aspect framing the fruit (orange, red apple, gooseberry) with nuances of chocolate, cooked cream, honeyed wholemeal brioche, toasted juniper, liquorice root. Perfectly integrated alcohol, making the flavours crystal clear and direct.
Long, crisp finish where the peat is just an accompaniment to the sweet, rough tones that intertwine and reverberate from the palate.
Different yet similar to the edition of a year earlier, perhaps a little less rich (but really, we are talking about very personal nuances) but greatly satisfying, a full and varied experience that cannot leave you indifferent, the certainty of a series from a distillery that has a consistency of quality that is truly rare.