Kilchoman (pronounced Kilhoman) is one of the newest and smallest distilleries in Scotland, opening its doors in 2005. It currently produces a 3 and 5 year single malt, though they plan to release 8 year (2014), 10 year (2016) and 12 year (2018) bottlings. By what we taste from the junior varsity so far, age should make a good thing even better for Kilchoman’s future issues. The offerings are bottled yearly, quantified by flavor profile and maturation. Future releases of the Machir Bay (and others) will be re-released in more mature versions.
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region: Islay
Bottled: 2012
Strength: 46%
Price: $68.05
Maturation: Oloroso cherry casks
Location: Kilchoman
Nose: Peat, brine, vanilla, cake batter, honey suckle, horse sweat, butter, brown sugar
Palate: Smoke, sweet, kaffir lime,
Finish: Black cherry, smoke, iodine, brine
Comments: A dash of water doesn’t hurt to help tamp down the heat.
Adam – I love the nose on this scotch. What I like most about this whisky is that it tastes like potential, even if not fully realized yet. It doesn’t have all its planets aligned in the perfect order just yet but there is a lot going on when you take a sip, and I like that. The Machir Bay is also incredibly smooth for such a young offering and I’m looking forward to furthering my exploration of their larder. I’ve found myself recommending it to people who want to try an Islay but are secretly afraid of the fabled peat monsters they’ve heard dwell there.
Kate – There are a lot of layers that come at you all at once. This is something you need to come back and revisit to find everything. Strong on the butter and brown sugar, before they simmer together, with a medium finish. I will forever remember this scotch based on Henry’s description. I like that this scotch adds unexpected flavours like hints of horse sweat (it sounds weird but the nose definitely reflects the smell).
Meghan – Sugar cookie sweet with clean barnyard mid-palate and kaffir lime finish. Don’t hold on it to too long or you’ll bring out the bitterness.
Henry – Sweet, smoky, briny. Like the lady parts of an island girl. Similar to the Ardbeg 10, but a young whisky with a lot of layers.
Michael – Sweet goes very quickly, with the hint of lime. A little smoke but there’s a Listerine-like quality that lingers on the end more than brine.
Jenny – This Machir Bay is fresh, compared to a lot of whiskies. No lingering deep smoke.
