Tastes

This one is not meant for beginners or occasional drinkers. It requires patience too. The first impression was shockingly alcoholic and spicy, with huge bold peat smoke and green notes. However, as time goes by, the harmonic symphony between bourbon barrels and sherry casks starts to show in both the smell and taste, along with the medicinal peat smoke of course. Although young and perhaps lacking some careful vatting (hence the alcoholic debut), I still think it's worth the price. As a core range malt, Kilchoman is clearly establishing a unique Islay experience here. Score went up from 3.75 to 4.

This expression has long been a nostalgic reminder of what a whisky is about. Sweet maltiness, vanilla, citrus food, hint of smoke, cereal notes, brine, chocolate and pineapple all present on the nose, with their very good alignment on the palate, where more creamy and sherry shows up. Lovely dram! P.S. Score modified from 4.25 to 4.

A great example of what Islay whisky is capable of! The pale straw colour really hides the strong and complex nature of this dram. There are notably roasted nuts, herbal notes, light honey sweetness, sea salt and sweet chocolate on the nose. The longer you wait, the more it transitions to salted smoked meat. Palate is sweet first, then the peat smoke hits mid-palate, with brine and maltiness, roasted nuts and pepper. Finish is full of vegital smoke, peppery and sweet, and at some point it reminds me of the smell of bamboo leaves, quite odd! A little bit of water helps bring out the herbal notes and citrus fruits. Just love this unique dram.

Simple but worth the money as an easy-sipping dram. Initially the nose has a funk that I associate with grain in it, but with time it mellows to overcooked cereal notes which I find somehow pleasant (could be the charred barrel combined with grain). Beside that there is also some caramel and orange/grapefruit peel, with a touch of candy sweetness. Peppery and spicy on the palate, with some bitterness but reasonably contained. Short, warm finish and a little dry. P.S. Score updated from 3.25 to 3.5 due to value for money.

The nose starts with predominantly green apples and pears, with maltiness and caramel, some metallic notes in the beginning. Later vanilla, milk chocolate, pickled ginger, peach, pineapple and even hints of darker fruits show up. Palate for this dram is marked by a sweet and sour note and bitterness perhaps a bit like orange peel. Maltiness is always present, along with a creamy texture. It finishes with some bitterness and leather, confirming the presence of sherry casks. This is overall a solid dram for its value. A bit of water can deliver more fruity notes on the nose. Revisited and found that the nose is absolutely beautiful, hence bumped up to 4.0 from previous 3.75!

Honestly, every time I took a dram from this bottle, it gave me some flavours I never noticed before. This dram requires a great amount of patience to discover all the amazing smell and tastes! It is full of complexity and character. I would say, among all seducing scents it offers, the floral notes (almost like nectar) and Chinese ricecake remembrance are the most impressive to me on the nose. Citrus fruits and honey sweetness dominate the palate but in the end it shows some ginger spiciness, nuttiness and coffee. If you are patient, you might be sensing some faint smoke and brine (a drop of water can help). Finish is medium-long, warm and sweet. To me, the most amazing thing for this dram is the extraordinary notes of sweet milk chocolate when I nose it right after I swallow. Just wow! I think the magic truly lies in those 100+ barrels and the hands of the master blender. P.S. Tried another bottle bought from a different place, which showed more grain characteristics much like a bourbon (surprised and a bit disappointed). Score modified to 4 from 4.5 due to such dramatic batch variations.

A very enjoyable one! Glad that I grabbed the last bottle in the local liquor store. This is a good example of how casking can greatly improve a young whisky. I got lots of aromas on the nose: corn sweetness, rye spiciness, vanilla, raisins, dried fruits, honey, oak, and later plums, hints of herbal notes, sun-dried tangerine peel (chenpi), even a little bit of nuts and chocolate. On the palate, the arrival was full of spicy rye and oak flavours, then raisins and dark fruits, bread, a hint of citrus fruits, nuts coming up towards the end. The finish was medium-short, spicy and a little dry with sweet aftertaste. Overall a very interesting dram, having a unique taste profile never seen in Canadian whiskies. The port influences hide the youthness well.

The dram has an amber colour, at standard 40% abv. The nose begins with vanilla, fresh orange, slightly sweet, with a subtle hint of chocolate. Palate is soft, some fruitiness, especially oranges, hint of smoke, later slightly sour with some oak inference, not spicy. Finish is raisiny, smooth and chocolate-like, short to medium in length. Overall an easy sipper, but a little pricy for the taste. Out of curiosity, I once mixed it with some mediocre Canadian whisky (1:1), and there was saltiness and more smoky flavours on the palate.

On the nose, sweet fruits with smoke and sea salt in the very beginning, then it transitions to syrup/honey type of sweetness and maltiness, while the sea breeze is always present. The palate is sweet and slightly creamy then quickly evolves to peppery spice, ashy, smoky, later becomes malty and even a bit nutty. It finishes long and peppery, at the very end becoming dry, nutty with a black tea-like sweet aftertaste. Right at the beginning it definitely gives me memories of Bowmore, which imo is responsible for the peaty smoke in this dram. Overall a wonderful one! p.s. the empty glass is truly "rock oyster" on "damp ash" (sea salt, peat with earthiness and leather from the good amount of refilled casks) P.S. Score modified to 4 from 4.25.

Complex and smooth. Nose begins with creamy vanilla, then goes on to citrus and apples, some oakiness and hints of maltiness and spiciness; on the palate fruity, with green apples and citrus notes, hint of nuts shows up, even smoke from the charred barrels, very creamy and clingy; long finish with oakiness and nutiness. A lovely dram! P.S. Score changed from 4.25 to 4.