Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

News to many malt lovers will be the Kilchoman distillery. Beginning production in December 2005, this miniscule operation (one of Scotland’s smallest) is the first distillery to be built on Islay for over 120 years. The venture was the idea of a wine and spirit merchant, Anthony Wills who moved to Islay in 2000 after marrying a local. While Kilchoman is remarkably contemporary, it’s most notable for its adherence to old fashioned methods. There’s justification for Kilchoman’s slogan of “Taking whisky back to it’s roots”. It is essentially a ‘farm distillery’, as many were in the early nineteenth century. Just about everything to do with whisky production happens on site. Even the majority of the barley is grown and malted by the distillery - highly unusual nowadays when most are either purchasing barley from around Scotland or importing the raw materials. (Kilchoman do also purchase heavily peated malt (50ppm) from the Port Ellen Maltings on Islay). 80% of Kilchoman’s whisky sees maturation in x-Bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace distillery with the remainder aged in Oloroso Sherry butts from Spain. The house style tends towards a sweet, fruity and smoky malt.

This is the fourth release from Kilchoman and has been aged for three years in x-Bourbon barrels. Non chill filtered. No colouring has been added.

Tasting note: Very pale straw colour with a pale green blush. The aroma immediately appeals with its soft peat, toasty malt, cut grass and baked citrus complexity; hints of liquorice all sorts emerge with aeration. A mouthwatering bouquet. The palate is soft and creamy from the get go building with a mildly tingly burst of sweet spice. Off dry flavours of malt are delivered in a slightly oily, soft, peaty blanket. Delicate spices persist with a hint of liquorice returning into the very lengthy aftertaste. Youthful, delicious whisky. 46% Alc./Vol.

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