Origin: Isle of Islay (Scotland)
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Strength: 46%ABV
Ageing casks: Ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry
Chillfiltered: No
Additional coloring: No
Owner: Kilchoman
Average price: € 60.00
Official website: kilchomandistillery.com
With its twentieth anniversary reached in December 2025, Kilchoman (formerly the youngest distillery on Islay) has begun introducing more and more age-stated bottlings which, until recently, were an exception but are now becoming a regular feature, as with the Loch Gorm, which has moved to ten years of age in its annual release.
In mid-2026 another tradition was “broken”: the one whereby whisky made entirely on site from barley grown in their own fields was an exception, embodied above all by the annual 100% Islay series. And here then is this Rockside, named after their very own farm, which becomes part of the core range, even boasting a (rather significant) age statement and offered at a decidedly accessible price.
Barley grown and malted on site, peat level at 20ppm, maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-oloroso sherry casks (in an approximate 80/20 ratio); this Rockside really marks a turning point for Kilchoman, bringing to fruition one of founder Anthony Wills’ projects: producing a whisky that truly embodies the “from field to bottle” spirit.
Tasting Notes
On the nose, it honors its nature as a farm distillery, giving the impression of entering a granary surrounded by aromas of cereals, wood, dust, and hay, framing a heart of candied orange, hazelnuts, shortbread, lemon cream, and apple. The peat is gentle, almost ethereal, a puff of smoke with coastal aspirations that carries on at length toward a sensation of wet stone. Other aromas dot the bouquet, among chestnut honey, vanilla, dried apricot, and nutmeg. Balanced and elegant.
On the palate it is not very viscous; the spices (black pepper, ginger, cloves) are rather intrusive on the entry, soon giving way to citrus, the true hallmark of the distillery, which leads into cereals (at times reminiscent of bread), caramel and scones. It sweetens over time, with praline almonds, custard, salted caramel and then also a maritime note, here more distinct and building, with the peat making itself felt especially on the finish, with a mineral, salty smoke.
Finish fairly long and lively, with citrus, scones, maritime notes, burnt wood, spices and crème brûlée.
Review: Those four degrees less in the ABV compared to the 100% Islay are noticeable, with a bit of substance and bite lost, but the heart of the distillery is all there, with an elegant compactness that captures the spirit of Kilchoman even more than its flagships, Machir Bay and Sanaig.
Vote: 85/100