Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strength

While this is already batch 4 of the Kilkerran Cask Strength, it is the first I ever try. It matured on re-charred oloroso hogshead, which explains the color. And it is bottled at 57.1% ABV, they could have named it Kilkerran 100 Proof, right? Anyway, let me just get down to it.

Oh, my, this is an intense nose! On the one hand dark and fruity notes, but those are very quickly overpowered by green garden herbs, ribs on the barbecue, curry ketchup and freshly polished leather. But beware: there is also a big whiff of sulfur in there. That’s not for everyone. Nice smokiness too.

The alcohol let’s itself be felt on the palate. Again dark and sweet notes first, like coffee, figs, milk chocolate and fresh cherries, but turns rather umami with lots of oak. The smokiness is less outspoken than on the nose. It’s a lot sweeter than the nose promised too. This is quickly going in the right direction. The sulfur evaporates and makes room for more red fruit, honey and plum liqueur. Literally turns honeysweet.

Even the finish is intense. Red fruit, pepper, smoke. A bitter, dry note at the death, but it does not detract in the least.

Wow, that was an intense flavor bomb.