Kilchoman launch their 11th. Edition 100% Islay!
Kilchoman launch their 11th. Edition 100% Islay, Single Farm Single Malt Whisky!
The 100% Islay 11th Edition was distilled from their 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 barley harvests before being matured for a minimum of 9 years in 26 bourbon barrels and 7 oloroso sherry butts.
The combination of lightly peated barley matured in both bourbon and sherry casks creates an intense combination of floral sweetness, layers of rich fruity character and soft maritime peat smoke.
Anthony Wills – Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director
From their inception, the 100% Islay range, Scotland’s only Single Farm Single Malt, was their reason for being. It represents the rebirth of farm distilling, where the responsibility for growing and malting barley, the foundation of single malt, is not outsourced but completed on site with skill, care and attention to detail. An unbroken chain of creation from barley field to bottle, each stage all done right here at Kilchoman.
Having tasted some excellent older sherry butts we quickly decided that they were at their peek, we then tried a few bourbon barrels of a similar age and the backbone of this edition came together very easily.
Our bourbon barrels and oloroso butts are incredibly consistent and this combination of roughly 40% sherry butts and 60% bourbon barrels works phenomenally with the style of whisky we produce. It allows both the citrus sweetness of our spirit and the rich fruity flavours of the casks to balance perfectly.
– Anthony Wills: Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director
Limited to 12,000 bottles, the 11th Edition 100% Islay is now available worldwide at a rrp of around £75. Bottled at 50% abv with no chill-filtration or colouring.
Limited to 12,000 bottles, the 11th Edition 100% Islay is now available worldwide!
Kilchoman has kindly sent me a sample to try. (Thanks kilchomandistillery.com / @Kilchomanwhisky!)
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Tasting Notes – Kilchoman 11th. Edition 100% Islay Single Malt Whisky (50%)
BARLEY VARIETY: OPTIC & PUBLICAN HARVESTS: 2007, 2009, 2010 & 2011
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Nose: Sweet, peaty smoke with plump fruits, crunchy apples, cereal and toffee. Add in a salty, coastal breeze and you get a very inviting nose indeed!
Palate: Gorgeous cane sweetness with toffee, sticky fruits and smokey peat layering nicely on top. Finish: Very smooth with a warming savoury spice, charred wood and those magnificient peat, sweet flavours. A joyous taste experience that keeps on through to a satisfying long finish. Overall: Kilchoman never fails to impress me – their drams really do bring a smile to my senses! A nose to-die-for followed by flavours that NEVER disappoint! My Conclusion: 100% Islay = 100% Happy! |
Farm distilling – an unbroken chain of creation from barley field to bottle, each stage all done right here at Kilchoman!
Kilchoman is available to buy from these Merchants:-
Many thanks to kilchomandistillery.com (@Kilchomanwhisky) for sending me the sample!
About Kilchoman
Kilchoman Distillery is a small family run farm distillery based on the rugged west coast of Islay. The distillery was established by Anthony Wills in 2005, the idea was to build a new distillery which took whisky production back to its roots. Anthony and wife Kathy have been joined by their three sons; George, James and Peter.
Kilchoman produces its 100% Islay single malt from barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and completes every stage of the whisky-making process at the distillery, including traditional floor malting. Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland to do this.
Since the first bottling was released in 2009, Kilchoman has quickly established itself as a high quality Islay Single Malt Whisky with these notable awards:
– Kilchoman’s exceptional quality was recognised at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC) when Anthony Wills was named Master Distiller of the Year 2013.
– In 2016 both core expressions won major awards with Sanaig named Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – no age statement at the IWSC and Machir Bay came first as Best Islay Single Malt Scotch in the International Whisky Competition.
– Machir Bay was also awarded a Gold Medal in 2015 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) with Loch Gorm being awarded a Silver Outstanding Medal and 100% Islay a Silver at the prestigious awards.
– Kilchoman won Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011, only three years after the first bottling was released.
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