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Kilchoman 100% Islay 13th Edition - 50% abv
I love a smoky and peaty Islay. So a word of warning: if that's what you like, this might be a Kilchoman NOT to your taste. The peat is pretty toned down in this one with peat levels at just 20ppm. Many Kilchomans see some Sherry influence but this one is 100% ex-Bourbon casks. With lower peat and smoke than usual and no Sherry and everything grown and made on Islay, I guess this is a bit of a "purist" Kilchoman. And to my tastes it's absolutely lovely. It has magical barley and honey scents with gentle smoke and peat but if you're expecting these aromas to punch you in the face you need to buy some other Islay. This is elegant for an Islay. Almost oily in texture but doesn't gladly go that thick in texture, slightly peppery, a little sweet but also coastal and salty at the same time, amazingly drinkable even without water at 50% but it does open up nicely with a small spoonful. Just wow.
Kilchoman continues to surprise me. I thought I wasn't the biggest fan of huge smoke/peat and sherry - though I do like either or. And then their Sanaig and Loch Gorm just blew me away. Usually I'm a fan of smoke/peat punching me in the face, yet here is a beauty where it is actually subtle. So, Kilchoman is now a fave not only for an in-your-face Islay style but also for an elegant subtle style. I read that a lot of their 100% Islay releases do see a touch of Sherry and the 13th is a rare one that it's all ex-Bourbon. But since I know they do Sherried ones so well, I'm tempted to pick up a bottle of the 14th since that's still available here. Anyone tried the 14th yet?
I love a smoky and peaty Islay. So a word of warning: if that's what you like, this might be a Kilchoman NOT to your taste. The peat is pretty toned down in this one with peat levels at just 20ppm. Many Kilchomans see some Sherry influence but this one is 100% ex-Bourbon casks. With lower peat and smoke than usual and no Sherry and everything grown and made on Islay, I guess this is a bit of a "purist" Kilchoman. And to my tastes it's absolutely lovely. It has magical barley and honey scents with gentle smoke and peat but if you're expecting these aromas to punch you in the face you need to buy some other Islay. This is elegant for an Islay. Almost oily in texture but doesn't gladly go that thick in texture, slightly peppery, a little sweet but also coastal and salty at the same time, amazingly drinkable even without water at 50% but it does open up nicely with a small spoonful. Just wow.
Kilchoman continues to surprise me. I thought I wasn't the biggest fan of huge smoke/peat and sherry - though I do like either or. And then their Sanaig and Loch Gorm just blew me away. Usually I'm a fan of smoke/peat punching me in the face, yet here is a beauty where it is actually subtle. So, Kilchoman is now a fave not only for an in-your-face Islay style but also for an elegant subtle style. I read that a lot of their 100% Islay releases do see a touch of Sherry and the 13th is a rare one that it's all ex-Bourbon. But since I know they do Sherried ones so well, I'm tempted to pick up a bottle of the 14th since that's still available here. Anyone tried the 14th yet?