Kilkerran 12 Year

Can't believe I haven't reviewed this. Nose - the first note is opening a box of wax birthday candles. Next I get what i detect as a light sherry sweetness. I get some hearty grains in here. A good hearty bready malt with a touch of sherry and just a nice rich quality malt character. Taste - Creamy mouth feel and flavor profile. Light oak with sherry and just a wonderful overall complex light salted lightly peated (maybe?) malt. This is wonderful sub 100 dollar whisky but it's just a good whisky. I did the 16 vs the 12 a few nights ago side by side and I took the 12 by a clear but not overwhelming amount. Tonight doing them on after the other it's not closes. The 12 is a better bottle of whisky. I don't want to get crazy so I'm doing a 2.5 for the 12 but I could go higher. The 12 is just a great example of a complex and unique malt that's been put together in great casks. It's no world beater and it's expensive here, but good work guys.

Nose: musty, woody (oak), vanilla sweetness, almost a cola smell with some licorice Taste: creamy, pine, shortbread, citrus, smoke, peat, pepper Finish: medium with spice and ginger Great dram, spicy pepper with sweetness and small/mild peat.

Beautiful nose, nice maltiness and fruit. Vanilla and oak, not much in the way of peat but there is some earthiness there. Finishes dry, sour and spicy enough to tingle a little. Great whisky to spend time with.

Straw+Gold in color. Nose punches well above its weight class. Lots going on, touch of peat and some salt, with plenty of honey. After open for a while, more appears including some raw meat and fresh vanilla. Let this one stay open for an hour plus, and it continues to evolve. The orange turns to cherry and apple. On palette, again - great value going on here. Some estery orange, with Cambletown sea spray, toffee. And enough smoke. Orange, almonds, and butterscotch. Touch of black pepper for sure. That smoke and salt comes on just perfect. Gets sweeter as it opens. Just a ton going on and really good value. Really rich. $ for $, one of the best. Could drink it all day. Hard to find a better value at this price.

Light straw yellow. After opening, fruit dominates, but hint of smoke also. Touch of spice. On palette, very nice, sweet vanilla starts you off. Mixes nicely with the hint of smoke and some ocean salt and citrus. The smoke lingers a touch. Lighter and not ever long, but just right with light chocolate on the back. Great value - for the price, lots of whisky here.

Golden in color, amazing layers of tangy dried fruit, caramel, and vanilla. Aromas of coffee and smoke emerge from a deep and fulfilling finish. Reminiscent of some of the finest drams from neighboring Arran.

A bit smoky in smell & taste, but ends up being a bit bland for me. Not a huge fan of smokey tones in whisky