Kilchoman is the youngest operational distillery on Islay (for now). My experience with their offerings isn’t extensive but I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from them. Sanaig is rumoured to be 70-80% ex-sherry casks and 20-30% ex-bourbon casks. I’m always weary of sulphur with sherry casks, but Kilchoman owner Antony Wills is one of the few people in whisky who openly talks about sulphur and the lengths Kilchoman has to go to in order to avoid sulphur taint. Many industry people insist the “sulphur problem” has been solved, but many of us know better. Anyhow....

Tasting Notes

Sampled Sept 3 2020, neat from a Canadian Glencairn

Nose: sweet peat smoke, vanilla, raisins, cranberries, walnuts, apples, a little balsamic vinegar
Palate: rich, full-bodied, sweet on arrival, with a mineral note developing, slightly briny, vanilla, gentle smoke, walnuts, raisins,
Finish: long and lingering, milk chocolate, dates, walnuts, a touch of black pepper, cloves, and cinnamon, apples, with peat smoke returning

Kilchoman continues to impress me. I really loved the single cask (ex-bourbon matured) I reviewed here (91/100). While the Sanaig isn't quite at that level for me, it's still top-notch for a "standard" release. Highly recommended.

@BlueNote commented:

@OdysseusUnbound I've had 4 of their offerings and so far I've yet to meet a Kilchoman I didn't like. The Sanaig is one I have yet to try. It's on my list thanks to your usual very useful review.

@OdysseusUnbound commented:

@BlueNote I’m hoping to snag a Machir Bay. That one is mostly ex-bourbon casks, and I think I’d like that even more. The single cask I had from Kilchoman was an 11 Year single Cask ex-bourbon and it was right in my wheelhouse. Sort of a cross between Caol Ila and Kilkerran.

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Composed of 4 year old 50% Sherry, and 50% Bourbon matured, heavily peated spirit (Ardbeg level), this bottling was only meant for the French market, but it was easy to find in Holland too. And... it was named after a creek close to the distillery. There is a small chance this bottling will be continued so enjoy it while its there.

Nose: Very fruity, dried yellow fruit, apricot, plums, red apple. Vanilla bisquits, light but medicinal smoke, salty sea sand, pine tree resin, furniture polish and marzipan. With water a bit more floral.

Palate: Soft and paced arrival in a quite oily texture with clean flavors. Pipe tabacco smoke, herbs like eucalyptus,sage, chamomile tea. Frangelico, vanilla and toffee. It developes a bit darker with white pepper, more Islay smoke, bbq meat. Good clean spirit, sharp and bold.

Finish: medium length with tobacco, ash, mocha, roasted nuts, fresh oak, medicinal herbs and iodine lingering.

Again a very nice expression from Kilchoman, the bourbon and sherry notes are both equally noticable and very nice cask flavors even though its young.

@PeatyZealot commented:

Well at the tasting, the Wills brothers said they use the same peated barley as Ardbeg, and not only for this one but for most of their line. Only the 100% Islays are with their own malted barley and are less peaty.