Tasting Notes – Kilchoman 5YO Exclusive Bottling From Abbey Whisky!

Tasting Notes – Kilchoman 5 YO Exclusive bottling

There is no doubt, it is official. Kilchoman is a very popular Islay malt whisky!

Not only does it fly off the shelves with each celebrated release but the whisky and it’s producers have also garnered a clutch of prestigious awards including Master Distiller of the Year 2013, Whisky of the Year at IWC 2013, Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt 2013 and Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky 2011.

From it’s first inception in 2005, the founder Anthony Wills was determined to get back to basics with whisky distilling.

Using barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and traditional floor malting are just two of the processes undertaken at the distillery.

This dedication to detail is reflected in it’s flavour.

Seeing red can be a good thing!

Abbey Whisky has managed to secure themselves a cask of this dram nectar and because they are very kind people, they are willing to share it with us!

Cask #285/09 has been matured for over four and a half years in a fresh bourbon barrel before being transferred to a Pedro Ximénez cask for a further four months maturation.

The idea is the Pedro Ximénez finish softens things down a little but still allows the dram to hold the traditional taste & characteristics of a Kilchoman whisky.

I think they have succeded!

Tasting Notes – Kilchoman 5 YO Exclusive bottling ( Cask strength – 58.3% )

Nose: Golden amber colour. Peaty aromas with brown sugar and vanilla.

Palate: Thickly peaty, sweet caramel combined with plump sultanas and a full cask strength alcohol hit to knock yer socks off!

Finish: Long spicy finish with slight peatyness, a modicum of tanin.

Overall: This is a fine meaty dram – the 58.3% sure packs a punch but in a controlled, defined way. It is difficult to believe this is such a young malt, it’s flavours offer a maturity seen in much older drams.
A malt whisky that is wise beyond it’s years!

Can’t believe Abbey Whisky is releasing this cask – I’d be tempted to keep it for private consumption.

But then, the folks at Abbey Whisky are very generous!

Many thanks to Abbey Whisky (@abbeywhisky) for sending the sample!

Kilchoman 5 YO Exclusive bottling has a limited stock of 270 bottles and is available to buy from Abbey Whisky priced at £78.95