Kilchoman has released their latest edition in their 100% Islay range, Scotland’s only Single Farm Single Malt.

The Kilchoman 100% Islay 9th Edition has been distilled from their 2007 and 2009 barley crops and is a vatting of 43 ex-bourbon barrels matured for over 9 years in their on-site dunnage warehouses.

Available Now!

Bottled at 50% abv with a total bottle release of just 12,000 bottles this Edition is bound to be popular AND disappear off the shelves quickly!

The 100% Islay range has been released annually since 2011 and their whiskies are distilled solely from barley grown in the distillery’s surrounding fields.

This barley is then malted, distilled, matured and eventually bottled – ALL on site – an unmatched, unbroken chain of creation from barley to bottle!

With barley origins, varieties and farm distillers one of the industry’s hot topics, their 100% Islay range remains Scotland’s only Single Farm Single Malt.

The 9th Edition marks a return to the bourbon barrel maturation of previous 100% Islay releases. (Last year’s 8th edition contained roughly 50% sherry maturation.)

Our 100% Islay spirit pairs seamlessly with ex-bourbon barrels. The lower peating level (20ppm) allows the natural floral sweetness of the spirit to shine through whilst a higher age profile adds layers of overripe tropical fruit and stewed plums whilst the high ABV makes it no lightweight.

I’m delighted with how the 9th Edition has come together and as ever, I look forward to hearing people’s opinions.
– Anthony Wills: Kilchoman Founder and Master Distiller

The Kilchoman 100% Islay 9th Edition will retail for approximately £71.94 and is available now.

Kilchoman (@Kilchomanwhisky) has very kindly sent me a sample to try – thanks Kilchoman!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes: The Kilchoman 100% Islay – 9th Edition (50%)

No chill filtration or colouring – peating level of 20ppm.

Kilchoman is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

• Master of Malt
• The Whisky Exchange
• Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists
• Abbey Whisky
• The Whisky Barrel

• 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.
• In 2018 Sanaig was voted best peated whisky at the Whisky World Cup.
• This year both core expressions were awarded gold medals at The Spirits Business
Scotch Whisky Masters.
• Kilchoman won Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011, only three years
after the first bottling was released.

Kilchoman has Released it’s first “STR” Cask Matured Limited Edition!

A creation of the late Dr Jim Swan, STR refers to a specific formula for the Shaving, Toasting and Re-Charring of Red Wine Hogsheads.

Kilchoman STR Cask Matured 2019 is Now Available!

A total of 30 casks filled in 2012 were selected by Anthony Wills, Kilchoman’s founder and Managing Director, bottled at a strength of 50%abv without chill-filtration or colouring.

The process of shaving, toasting and re-charring has had a huge influence on these casks and the flavours this single malt possesses. Kilchoman released a full maturation Red Wine Cask release in 2016 which took on lots of the big and bold wine flavours, however the STR cask provides a different approach.

The shaving has reduced some of the bolder flavours on the surface of the oak, producing a more subtle red wine influence.

The casks were then toasted and charred over a natural oak fire, fuelled exclusively using oak chips from used staves, removing harsh tannins and undelivered flavours as well as breaking down unwanted chemical bonds of lignin, celluloses, and hemicelluloses.

These undesirable characteristics are replaced with the creation of basic sugars, vanilla and spice notes.

The STR cask, created by the late Dr Jim Swan, balances influence from both the new and used oak to create a powerful combination of rich fruit, oak, spice and maritime peat smoke.
– Anthony Wills: Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director

The Shaving, Toasting and Re-Charring Process

Kilchoman STR Cask Matured 2019 is bottled with a Phenol level of 50ppm at 50% ABV and is available now – priced at around £78.95.

I was lucky enough to have received a sample of this dram – courtesy of Kilchoman (@Kilchomanwhisky) – thanks Kilchoman!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Kilchoman STR Cask Matured 2019 (ABV: 50% / Phenol level: 50ppm)

Nose: Sweet, peaty smoke with fireside wood and burning embers. There’s crisp, crunchy apples and toffee with a hint of cherry(!) All-in-all, aromas that really spoils your nose! Palate: Vanilla toffee, smokey peat and charred wood. Finish: Long, spicy, pepper with sweet vanilla, honey and shades of liquorice. Tobacco comes at the end. Overall: The 50% gives this dram a satisfying, peaty, smokey, sweet punch. It has flavour a-plenty and all finely balanced. I really love the Kilchoman drams and they are always a pleasure to sample – the Kilchoman STR Cask Matured did NOT disappoint! A hit for sure!

Kilchoman is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

• Master of Malt
• The Whisky Exchange
• Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists
• Abbey Whisky
• The Whisky Barrel
• The Green Welly Stop