Kilchoman Sanaig (2016 Edition)

Scotland, September 2017. Whisky #9, distillery tasting. Nose: Smoky, oily fruit (grapefruit, peaches, lime), some brine. Palate: Smooth, rich and smoky. Fruity, but heavier than the nose - prunes and stewed fruit. Sherry, but subtle. An overall sweetness that is just right. Finish: Long. Chocolate, fruit and gentle smoke that lingers enticingly, beckoning you back for another dram. In my opinion this is the best Kilchoman expression to date and the first I've tasted that did not seem immediately too young. The citrus note can be a bit over-emphasized in their whisky for my taste, but here it is perfectly contained and balanced by the sherry cask influence. Great whisky with a masterful finish. Good value for money. "Very Good" : 86/100 (4 stars)

So, after many delays and unforeseen issues, I have finally finished the 30th sample from me and my friend's second round of scotch samples. It's a good thing, too, as our third round of samples is supposed to ship next week. I saved this one for last because it represented what I hoped would be one of the best of the round, and possibly one of the best of the entire tour for me. This is the NAS, peated whisky from Kilchoman. The 2016 Sanaig comes in at 46% ABV, has no color added and is non-chill filtered. It was supplied on the tour by Scott from Long Island, NY. I was also able to sample this along with their other NAS juice, Machir Bay. The bulk of the Sanaig was finished in Oloroso sherry casks while the Machir was left in American oak. So, this one should have and was significantly sweeter. Sweet and peat work much better IMO, so I expected a lot from this one. It delivered. It's a bright, golden yellow in the taster and produces thicker, sticky legs on the glass when you spin it, while releasing a pleasant aroma of tropical fruits, sweet toffee and BBQ-esque smoke. When you dive in closer the earthy elements of peat and sea salt provide that strong, island backbone. They meld together quite well and create a wonderful nosing experience similar to Lagavulin and Highland Park. The palate is surprisingly luscious: more tropical and orchard fruits, plums and sweet raisins along with a healthy dose of chocolate coat the tongue until the smoky peat and warming alcohol settle in and let you know you're sipping whisky from the Scottish isles. The slightly higher ABV is actually the saving grace here because it really comes in at the perfect time to push away the sweetness. There's a bit of harsh pepper and oak here that give a hint to the fact this stuff is somewhat youthful, but it's not overpowering nor is it offensive. It just reminds you that you are drinking younger stock. I've had a few reservations about NAS whisky since the market is becoming somewhat flooded with them, but this is one of the better ones. The finish is all Island whisky: earthy peat, brine and smoke that's long and warming. I pick up the chocolate again here, too. That's the scariest part of this one because it makes you want to drink more. It could easily turn a night time dram into a late night session, lol. Overall, what excites me the most is that Kilchoman clearly has some great master blenders at their disposal and they are making quality stuff this early in their career. I wish I had a time machine and could travel forward about 15 years to taste some of their aged and blended stock. I have a feeling they will become one of the big dogs on not just Islay, but in all of Scotland. They haven't reached Ardbeg or Lagavulin status, but they are well on their way. Buy and try with confidence, guys. This is solid single malt Scotch. 4.25 stars. Cheers, my friends.

Stop number 30 (and the final stop of round two) of the SDT is Kilchoman. Sanaig is one in Kilchoman's core range of expressions. 46% ABV, and like all Kilchoman whiskies, it is natural color and non chill filtered. This one is an amber gold in color. Rich soft peat on the nose. Less intense than the Machir Bay. Grilled apricots and peaches, unexpected but quite pleasant. Lemongrass, a little lime and oranges. Sherry sweetness, raisins, dates and plums. No real oak to speak of, but a sawdust sensation is there. Caramel and burnt sugar and a touch of dark chocolate. More like a Lagavulin than a Laphroaig. After time in the glass I got a distinct mocha note followed by maple syrup. The palate has more peat than the nose indicated. Meaty. Bonfire and cigar ashes. Cocoa dusted oranges, mocha and pepper. A little salted caramel to round it all out. It has a youthful zip but shows maturity beyond its years. On the verge of true elegance. A medium bodied mouthfeel that is dry. The finish is long and rich. Peat smoke and dark sherry/mocha. This is like the fraternal twin of Machir Bay. Born together but distinct personalities. This is comprised of both sherry and bourbon maturation, but mostly sherry. The Machir Bay is the opposite. The Oloroso casks really mellowed out the young spirit. I would buy a full bottle even at $5-10 more than its brother. I would prefer to wait until it had a few more years of maturation to it as I feel it could be something amazing. Another 10 years in sherry casks and then maybe finishing in virgin American oak could do wonders. Thanks to Scott for the sample. Looking forward to round 3 and all the wonderful samples therein. Solid 4 Cheers