Kilchoman Machir Bay Named Whisky of the Year

Kilchoman Machir Bay Gift Pack / 2 Tasting Glasses

A new release by Islay’s only farm distillery, Kilchoman, is already receiving rave reviews, having been named Whisky of the Year at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC).

Kilchoman’s Machir Bay was awarded the highest score of the entire competition, following a blind-tasting of over 50 whiskies by an expert panel.

Owner and founder of Kilchoman Distillery, Anthony Wills, was also recognised at the awards, winning the title of Master Distiller of the Year. As a new category this year, judges unanimously agreed Anthony and the Kilchoman team deserved the recognition not only for producing a superior Single Malt, but also to further highlight that Kilchoman has only been distilling whisky since 2005.

Sylvain Allard, managing director of the International Whisky Competition, said: “Machir Bay and Kilchoman Distillery are worthy winners in this year’s IWC. To have such a young whisky receive the highest score is unprecedented.

“Compared with the bigger brands’ younger releases, it’s a significant accomplishment that Kilchoman has only been bottling Single Malt Whisky since 2008 on a mirco-distillery.”

Anthony Wills, founder and owner of Kilchoman, said: “We’re honoured to receive recognition at the IWC for both Machir Bay and the distillery overall.

“We launched the Machir Bay as our core range last year and have been thrilled by the response from experts and our customers. We practice a very strict wood policy regime at Kilchoman which is crucial in our ability to produce such a high-quality young Single Malt.”

Machir Bay is a vatting of four and five year old ex-bourbon casks, with the four-year casks being finished in Oloroso sherry butts for four weeks prior to bottling. Bottled once a year, each release contains more mature casks allowing Kilchoman fans to follow the development of the unique malt as it matures. Machir Bay also won the prestigious IWSC 2012 Gold Medal – Best in Class.

Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the first distillery to be built on Islay for 125 years. A working farm distillery, it is one of only a handful of distilleries still practicing floor malting. Kilchoman also grows its own barley, and completes all parts of the production process, from barley to bottling, on the island.

Launched in April, the new bottling, Machir Bay 2013 is bottled at 46% ABV and is now available from The Whisky Exchange.

Tasting Notes: Machir Bay 2013 Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky

A classic Islay malt now showing the benefit of additional ageing.
Colour: light beech
Nose: soft cooked fruits with strong peaty aromas
Palate: mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness
Finish: a long lingering finish