This was my first Islay pickup for this fall season. Never had any of their expressions before this and have heard good things, so here we are. Kilchoman Machir Bay is named after the bay on the west coast of Islay and the associated beach. It’s a mixture of whiskies matured in both ex-bourbon and sherry casks, with the emphasis on bourbon. It’s also notable for the fact that Kilchoman distills their spirit from 100% Islay grown barley. It’s a nice pale straw color in the glass and produces slow skinny legs when given a spin. Its bottled at a respectable 46% ABV. The nose is slightly briny, with lemon zest, floral barley, and a light smoke. There was a noticeable alcohol burn when I first opened the bottle, but that has thankfully faded. The palate is simple but pleasant. There’s a nice honey sweetness with some smoke and a thick mouthfeel. Some malty Biscuit on the back end. Once swallowed, the finish has hot, ashy campfire smoke that fades into a smoky shortbread sweetness. The finish is the best part of this dram. This was $65 online. At that price it seems a little high for an NAS Islay whisky, but it’s also kind of a “craft” whisky when you take the local barley into consideration. Bottom line is I like this, but it’s a little pricey. 3.25/5. Cheers!