Whisky : Kilkerran 15 Year (2004) for The Nectar

Country/Region : Scotland/Campbeltown

ABV : 51.2%

Cask : Fino Sherry Puncheon (10Y), Refill Bourbon Hogshead (5Y)

Age : 15 Years (Distilled May 2004, Bottled September 2019)

Nose : Rich, meaty, and sweet. Barbecued duck came to mind right away with undercurrents of cinnamon, molasses, honey, and barley. Sweet caramelized duck skin with peppercorns, dried dates, and mild leathery funk.

Palate : Full-bodied, thick and viscous, with leather, dried fruits, and espresso beans. Fruits poached with cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger led into notes of coffee beans and licorice—undertones of leathered oil and weathered oak. Water brought out more molasses and leather. Almost earthy at the finish with raw cacao pods, red dirt, and malted barley.

Finish : Lingering roasted cacao and coffee beans with a hint of licorice.

Score : 6

Mental Image : Barley Stuffed Roast Duck

Notes : This Kilkerran reminded me of my wife’s uncle’s favorite dish to order whenever he visits— barley stuffed roast duck. It is not something he can get at home, so it is always high on his list of things to go out and eat. This dram was incredibly rich as it moved between meat, leather, dried fruits, and molasses. The meatiness on the nose disappeared on the palate, and an earthiness gradually replaces it with notes of red dirt and sandstone. It was a very cask-driven dram, and the tannic astringency was pretty drying after a few sips.

Overall, this Kilkerran was an intense affair. Lovely notes of roasted coffee and cacao developed with time, but this remained relatively simple— it felt tight and closed off. A few drops of water did not open things up; perhaps if I had a whole bottle and months, I might notice it gradually softening. Maybe I should be a bit glad because after checking out whiskybase, I noticed a few people commenting that other sister casks to this were more sulfured and funky. I have enjoyed my experience with Kilkerran, though, and this is not a surprise to me, I have enjoyed the “peat in progress” bottles a bit more than the typical namesake fare.

Image Credit: whisky auctioneer