Kilchoman 2008 Bourbon Cask Strength

Kilchoman is the new kid on the block for Islay distilleries. The first to be built for 124 years and starteded production in 2005. They use barley grown on site at Rockside Farm and malted at the distillery, as well as malt from the Port Ellen maltings. It is one of only a handful of distilleries still doing floor-maltings and apparently is unique in having all parts of the process, (from growing barley, malting, distilling, maturing through to bottling) completed on Islay.

The whisky produced by the Port Ellen maltings are peated to the same levels as Ardbeg, while the malt peated on their own floor maltings will be approximately 25 ppm

Matured in bourbon barrel, this fantastic release was distilled in September 2008 and bottled in September 2013. (distilled 25-09-2008; bottled 16-09-2013)

Nose is powerful, sweet and coastal. Saline, smoke, peat, butter, spiced apples and mincemeat. Palate gives smoked bbq, bonfire ashes, peat, spiced apples, vanilla. Finish is long and smoky.

Whilst it stands up on its own, if you like Ardbeg you will like this. There are some joyous parallels and you would never guess its age in a blind tasting.

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