There are quite a few private cask bottlings by Kilchoman, but I think this has to be the oldest one I’ve tried (7 yo or so). First tasted it last week with friends, and took a sample home to ‘research’ it further, with a clean palate, and fewer drams that precede it… 245 such bottles exist, and they are still on sale, if you’re a fan.
Kilchoman for Whisky In Leiden 2014 Cask 142/2007 , 60.4%, €79,99
Nose: Starts sharp on alcohol at first (like we did not see that at 60%+ …!) Nice peat reek and bacon notes up front. Hot cinnamon gum , pine needles and some fruity notes of pears and maybe red apple peel. Medicinal too with a wee seaside breeze. Truly Islay.
Palate: A big earthy Avalanche of peat – whoosh! Salt. Tar. Ground pepper. Cinnamon. Wood smoke. Very dry. Sooty but also malty with bitter mocha.
Finish: Dry. Wood smoke. Oak. Iodine. Salt. Earth. Cinnamon. Malt.
As good as young Islay goes. Pure ex-bourbon heavily peated stuff, with the whole package of medicinal, smoky, bbq-y malty goodness one can hope for. Certainly a very different animal than the PX finished excellent cask sample I tasted a few weeks back, but just as good or a tad better still..
Score: 89/100
Availlable for 79 EUR at the whisky site Leiden web shop (here) be quick…
Cheers for the sample, ofer.