Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 58.3%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Kilchoman
Average price: € 80.00
Official website: kilchomandistillery.com
Like the Sanaig, the other column of the Kilchoman portfolio has also received its cask strength versions, with the same recipe as the standard edition of Machir Bay: 90% ex-bourbon casks and 10% ex-sherry casks.
Many more versions compared to its sibling, in truth, of which the one tasted here is the most recent from late 2025. In fact, Machir Bay has had the honor of presenting itself in limited cask strength editions since 2014, but it has been missing from the shelves for three years now.
Tasting Notes
Aromatic citrus notes abound on the nose, with mandarins, kumquat, lemon, and pink grapefruit leading the charge of acrid coastal peat, vibrant yet not overwhelming. It is indeed with the fruit (the second wave of apple, peach, apricot, melon) that the smoke from the ocean-facing grill integrates, mingling with seafood, burnt seaweed, and brine. Scattered notes of licorice, nuts (peanuts, almonds), pastry cream, and burnt shortcrust pastry. Very straightforward. The addition of water enhances the pastry notes, adding more richness to the aroma.
In the mouth, the citrus theme resumes, still very pronounced, which along with the spices (black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg) enhances the peat, here more aggressive and energetic, a greasy layer of burning coals and so much, so much ocean, intended precisely as saltwater and brine. The sweet aspects remain in the background, at the end of the sip, always expressed in the combustible nuances: crème brûlée, burnt apricot tart, coffee, dark chocolate. And roasted malt. The water brings a bit of balance, with bitter notes and aromatic herbs that rebalance the wave of peat and sea.
Finale long of extinguished embers, citrus, nuts, licorice, coffee, burnt malt.
Review: As I see it, the cask strength version of a bottling already at 46%abv should not require the addition of water to bring it back to reason. Cask strength editions “just because” always leave me a bit puzzled, although in the end, the point is for everyone to find their ideal proof. However, I would still have preferred a smoother drinking experience that is less unbalanced.
Vote: 85/100