Kilkerran 12 Year

Noise: On the nose you initially get a malt and vanilla hit which is a bit reminiscent of a highland but as it opens up you start to pick up a subtle smoke coming through, which totally hits what you expect of a classic Campbeltown single malt. This one takes some time to open up but is well worth the wait. Pallet: A fruit sweetness of pears and green apple with some barley sugar sweets, as it developed I started to get some baking spice with some pepper heat coming through with underlying smoke, which is well balanced not overwhelming but definitely a part of the taste. Nicely done, for me a little thin on the mouth feel, but I like a full cask strength whisky, this is a really nice whisky at 46 ABV. Finish: Medium length with a nice spice, smoke finishing with a slight candy sweetness to it. Overall I really enjoyed this bottle and I spent serval enjoyable weeks with it, would I by another……. Yes absolutely, but for me and my taste I think I will be either giving the 16 YO a go or seeking out a cask strength version. A really good whisky, at not an unreasonable price and I would recommend it to anyone.

I've owned three of the taller style bottles and all of them were bourbon influenced. This is my first of the shorter style bottles and it is significantly different. This bottle has a richer, sherried influence. I've read about this shift and can confirm it. That said, I think it's great. This is a rich dram.

Semi-blind tasting with machrie moor 10 and smokehead rum rebel. This has nice bourbon/ butterscotch nose, not on the pallet though, than rather bitter. Worst finish of the 3 (bitter). Decent dram but don't understand the hype.

Hard to find, but worth the price if you can. Campbelltown whisky is a dying region, but this bottle gives a great representation of what the style can offer that sets itself a bit apart from other single malts. If you want to explore Scottish distilling regions, this is a must. If you're comfortable with Islays, Highlands and Speysides, (maybe a Lowland or the occasional Island) and don't want to branch out, save the cash.