Kilchoman’s “UK Land Rover Tour”
The Kilchoman Landrover with Bridget MacDonald and George Wills
On Tuesday 11th November, the celebrated Kilchoman UK Land Rover Tour was welcomed to the historic cellars of Nickolls and Perks in Stourbridge.
George Wills, the son of the owner of the distillery Anthony Wills, arrived at N&P (one of only 14 shops from in the U.K. selected to host this event) in a rather eye-catching and striking whisky-wrapped Kilchoman Land Rover to a warm reception from staff members and the string of whisky enthusiasts that were awaiting some drams with eager anticipation!
The distillery was established in 2005 on the island of Islay, the southernmost of the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Its founder, Anthony Wills, chose the location because of his encyclopaedic knowledge of the terrain and its history of producing premier malts. The distillery itself lies a couple of kilometres inland from the rugged West coast, overlooking Loch Gorm.
Around 100 tons of barley grows in the surrounding fields (great provenance) harvested each September. It is then malted traditionally on the floor maltings (note: Kilchoman is one of only six or seven distilleries out of more than 100 in Scotland that carry out traditional floor maltings), before being distilled, bottled and finally labelled on-site. Around 13,500 bottles of Kilchoman are produced every year, each with its own unique story.
Enthusiasm and know-how have resulted in the present-day success of Kilchoman. The distillery has come a long way from the days when George and his brother used to hand-fill the bottles with teapots and individuallly label them.
Today, Kilchoman has embraced technology, utilising machines to do the more tedious work for them. Looking to the future, the distillery doesn’t have a burning desire to become a huge outfit in the whisky production industry. They believe around 2000 litres annually is their maximum capacity, simply citing a lack of space as their primary obstacle.
On to the tasting:
Kilchoman 100% Islay – 4th Edition 50%
Kilchoman 100% Islay – 4th Edition 50%
In 2011 the first malt made using barley grown at the distillery was released, named 100% Islay.
Nose: Warming spices fused with white pepper. Touches of charred peat were evident, golden syrup.
Palate: Hints of fudge and salted caramel. A cool charr but very light with a lick of peat on the end.
Finish: Medium dry. The peat lurks around for some time.
Kilchoman Machir Bay 2014 Release 46%
In Febuary 2012 Machir Bay was launched as Kilchoman’s core expression, the first continuously available single malt (this is one you’ll always be able to get your hands on, thankfully). The name Machir Bay adopted its moniker from the beach that’s viewed from the distillery. This whisky is somewhat light considering the scale of PPM hits just 50, Ardbeg hitting 54 and bringing quite a huge difference. You don’t receive any medicinal flavours from the Machir Bay, it’s made up of 90% bourbon barrels and 10% first fill Oloroso sherry casks.
Nose: On the nose is a bit meatier than the 100% Islay. Thick-spiced fruits like a fruitcake.
Palate: Oily with lots of spice. It houses a great depth of peatiness. An idyllic richness that stems from the Oloroso Casks.
Finish: The finish is long with a pleasant sweetness from the bourbon barrels.
Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2014 Release 46%
Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2014 Release 46% Sherry Cask Matured
This is their only general release matured exclusively in ex-sherry casks. Loch Gorm takes its name from the loch that can be viewed from the window of Anthony’s office and matured in 2nd fill sherry casks.
Nose: Sweet delicate fruits. Flirting with banana and cinnamon spices with a wiff of smoke.
Palate: Continued spice. Barbecue smokiness, balanced with pineapple sweetness. Dark chocolate mixed with black pepper and smoked bacon.
Finish: Lovely richness from the sherry arrives on the finish with plenty more peat. A truly unique and fine dram.
Kilchoman 5 Year Old 2009 Original Cask Strength 59.2%
Kilchoman 5 Year Old 2009 Original Cask Strength 59.2%
Kilchoman only produced around 9 to 10,000 bottles or their Original Cask Strength 59.2%.
Nose: Smoked ham, roasted nuts, ripe fruits, pears, apples,
Palate: Honey glazed ham, a good portion of smoke; the flavours improve when adding a drop or two of water. You get smoked pears.
Finish: Elongated and retains those oily, honeyed textures on the palate right through to the finish.
Kilchoman 2011 Port Cask matured (bottled 2014) 55%
Kilchoman 2011 Port Cask matured (bottled 2014) 55%
Kilchoman only received 22 Ruby port casks straight from Portugal, roughly 3 years and 2 months old. As soon as they received these casks they were oozing with port, so the guys at Kilchoman did not wait around before filling them. Apparently, they were filled with whisky within the hour!
Nose: Freshly picked strawberries with a creamy scent. More fruits with raspberries and spiced oranges.
Palate: Lots operating on the palate. Rich with dried fruits but almost juicy. Hints of raisins, apricots and rich spiced fruitcake. Adding water makes it surprisingly thicker on the palate, really enhancing the rich flavours.
Finish: A lovely lingering finish with well-integrated smoke, and more juicy raisins.
Kilchoman Machir Bay UK Tour Bottling – Cask Strength 58.8%
Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength – UK Land Rover Tour Bottling
This is a Cask Strength version of their core expression, the Machir Bay. This bottling is exclusive to those holding a tasting for Kilchoman on their UK Land Rover Tour.
Nose: A lovely softness, toffee, caramel, vanilla pods with a subtle touch of peat smoke,
Palate: An immediate hit of spiced fruits. An amalgamation of vanilla, raisons, honey and orange zest.
Finish: A long finish with a great complexity from the fruitiness, the peat smoke is so light, almost hidden in this malt.
A good time was had by all…