Tasting: Kilchoman 2011-2016 Caroni Cask Finish for LMDW

Kilchoman 2011-2016 Caroni Cask Finish for LMDW

Rum casks are a thing now in the whisky world. I’ve tried a fair number so far and have found they can be a bit hit or miss – depending on the spirit and the casks used. One distillery where this has worked pretty well in the past is Springbank – they have easy access to rum casks since their sister company Cadenhead’s also bottles a few casks of rum every year. Now, this Kilchoman was bottled back in 2016 for the 60th anniversary of La Maison Du Whisky. In case you’re not familiar with rum, Caroni is the Port Ellen (or Brora) of the Rum world – a lost distillery.
This dregs bottle was given to me by malt mate Keith and was originally entered into the 2016 Malt Maniacs Awards. I recently rediscovered it in my cellar and asked my followers on Instagram and Twitter whether they would like to read tasting notes on it. The contents still seem to be alive and kicking (though there might have been some oxidation at this point), so let’s go for it!

Kilchoman 2011-2016 Caroni Cask Finish for LMDW

Dram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: official bottling for LMDW
Distilled: 01.12.2011
Bottled: 05.09.2016
Age: 4 years
Limitation: 264 bottles
Cask: Caroni cask finish
Alcohol: 59,5%
uncoloured / not chill filtered
Whiskybase link

Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman 2011-2016 Caroni Cask Finish for LMDW”
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Tasting: Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th edition / 2015

Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th edition / 2015

Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th edition / 2015Dram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: original bottling
Distilled: 10.2009
Bottled: 06.05.2015
Age: 5 yo
Limitation: 10.000 bottles
Cask: ex-bourbon
Alcohol: 50%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour: 
straw
A whisky made from 100% Islay ingredients. Barley grown on Islay, malted in Kilchoman’s own floor maltings, dried over Islay peat, distilled, matured and bottled on site. Well, bottle, cork and cardboard box are not from Islay, but everything else is. Let’s stick our nose in!
The nose opens with a whiff of alcohol, but you can already taste barley sweetness and (comparatively) light peat notes underneath. Let it breath for a minute or two. Now we get the gentle side of the peaty Islay drams. Sweet wort going into the fermenters with a splash of lemon on top, ginger, tangerine peel and canned tangerines, physalis, unobtrusive vanilla, a hint of honey, Werther’s Original sweets, a mineral, chalky note, and, of course, light peat. Nowhere near as loud as the south coast Islay drams or the Kilchoman whisky made from commercial peat, but still rather noticeable, it’s definitely an Islay dram. It seems to be a sweeter style of peat too, if such a thing even exists. Yum, this is exquisite! Young, but already very, very good! Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman 100% Islay 5th edition / 2015”

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Tasting: Kilchoman 5 yo 2009 – 2014 for Whisky Circle Pinzgau

Kilchoman 5 yo 2009 - 2014 for Whisky Circle Pinzgau

Kilchoman 5 yo 2009 - 2014 for Whisky Circle PinzgauDram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: Bottled for Whisky Circle Pinzgau
Distilled: 05.08.2009
Bottled: 05.08.2014
Age: 5
Limitation: –
Cask: 379/2009 – PX Finish
Alcohol: 59,3%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
amber
The nose (neat) opens with a blast of the typical Islay peat smoke note paired with a citrus note I happen to find in most Kilchomans. There’s also Iodine wound disinfectant paired with brine. The smoky, medicinal, citrussy aspect is really strong, overpowering the other aromas at first. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman 5 yo 2009 – 2014 for Whisky Circle Pinzgau”

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Tasting: Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 bottling

Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 bottling

Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 bottlingDram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: original bottling
Distilled: 22.05.2008
Bottled: 22.05.2015
Age: 7
Limitation: 742 bottles
Cask: 3 bourbon barrels 245, 449, 450
Alcohol: 58,2%
unchillfiltered; natural colour
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
light gold
The nose (neat) opens with the typical, phenolic, slightly medicinal Islay peat smoke paired with brine. Despite the strong alcohol and the still relatively young age (but quite old for a Kilchoman) there are already some mellow vanilla notes paired with sweet cookies and citrus peeking through – growing stronger as the nose adjust itself to the smoke. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman Feis Ile 2015 bottling”

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Tasting: Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Edition

Kilchoman 10th anniversary release

Kilchoman 10th anniversary release
Kilchoman 10th anniversary release

Dram data:
Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: Original Bottling
Distilled: Multi-Vintage 2005-2010
Bottled: 2015
Age: NAS (3 years according to the youngest whisky)
Limitation: 3000 bottles
Casks: Bourbon + Sherry
Alcohol: 58,2%
unchillfiltered; uncoloured
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:
Colour:
light gold
The nose screams “Islay”, just like most commercial malt bottlings from Kilchoman. An initial blast of peat with notes of iodine, coal fire smoke, tar and smoked seafood. The smoke is the predominant note at first with the alcohol making a strong appearance too – no wonder at 58,2% ABV. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman 10th Anniversary Edition”

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Tasting: Kilchoman Single Sherry Cask 3009/2007

Dram data:kilchoman_2007_singlecask

Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: Official bottling / exclusively for distillery shop
Distilled: 14.11.2007
Bottled: 24.05.2013
Age: 5 years
Limitation: 270 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: ?
Cask: Single sherry cask #3009/2007
Alcohol: 59,1%
Unchillfiltered & natural color
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:

The dram has a deep, copper-gold color and features quite long legs. The nose is immediately met with a complex mixture of dark fruits and berries, toffee, lemon rinds, ripe peaches, well integrated smoke and faint hints of earth and floral notes. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman Single Sherry Cask 3009/2007”

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Tasting: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2013

Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2013Dram data:

Distillery: Kilchoman
Bottler: Official bottling
Distilled: 2007
Bottled: 2013
Age: 5 years
Limitation: 10.000 bottles
Price at the time of purchasing: 69€
Casks: Oloroso sherry butts / Oloroso hogsheads finishing
Alcohol: 46%
Unchillfiltered & natural color
Whiskybase link

Tasting notes:

The dark, reddish color immediately gives away the fact this malt was matured in sherry casks. For how long? If I didn’t know, I’d guess around 8+ years judging from the nose which features a good measure of Islay smoke, dried fruits, raisins, dried apricots, overripe pineapple – reminding me of a fruit salad infused with a few spices and some chocolate on top. Continue reading “Tasting: Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2013”

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