Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 50%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry Oloroso
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Kilchoman
Average price: € 100.00
Official website: kilchomandistillery.com
Shortly after a Kilchoman from a longo ago in these pages, here is one of the distillery’s latest (and long-awaited) bottlings.
Made from barley grown in the fields near Kilchoman, this 2024 versione was distilled from the 2013 and 2014 harvests, matured for nine years between ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks at a ratio of 9:1, and released in September.
Tasting Notes
The nose is sharp and pungent, with citrus notes (candied orange and lemon) intertwined with earthy, brackish peat, which gradually gains depth without ever becoming overwhelming, remaining between toasted (wood and malt), iodine and oysters. White and yellow fruits (gooseberry, apple, pear, peach, dried coconut), custard, spices (aniseed, liquorice, white pepper), black tea, marzipan flow within this framework. A hint of cut grass and eucalyptus along the length. Fresh and crisp.
In the mouth, pepper and ginger greet the palate with conviction, leading the way to a decisive component of nuts (walnuts, almonds), wrapped in a smoke that confirms the maritime farm spirit, mixing earth, wood and iodine, always with an elegant balance. The citrus fruits return in a compote of flavours that takes up the thread of the nose, with a clear presence of malt and liquorice root, in the background pastry (cream, chestnut honey, short pastry) and white and yellow fruits. The smoke becomes ashy, with the remains of grilled fruit (pineapple, apple, peach) and oysters.
Long, iodised finish of citrus, nuts, aniseed, liquorice, extinguished embers.
This is clearly a matter of personal taste, but if last year’s all ex-bourbon version had an edge, this one remains ‘just’ pleasant and less varied, as if the sherry contribution has flattened a bit the overall impression.
Vote: 87/100