Kilchoman USA Exclusive Small Batch No. 5
Whisky: Kilchoman USA Exclusive Small Batch No. 5
Country/Region: Scotland/Islay
ABV: 48.3%
Cask: Sauternes (25%), Bourbon (70%), Oloroso (5%)
Nose: Smoke, smoldering wood, meat, toasted herbs, dried leaves, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, chicory, earth.
Palate: Medium to light-bodied, wood char, driftwood, toasted herbs, ginger, preserved lemons, earth, soot, a hint of salt, chocolate, and dried nettles.
Finish: Medium-length and drying with charred wood and citrus.
Score: 6
Mental Image: Bonfires and Coffee
Narrative & Notes: The aroma drifted between barbecue and autumn with velvety smoke, smoldering pine wood, burnt ends, and sizzling fat. Dried vegetation and toasted herbs melded with autumn spices as brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, and chicory appeared with hints of raisins. An underlying earthiness flowed throughout with soot, play dough, and dusty red dirt in the background. The palate was medium to light-bodied with subtle notions of charred driftwood, old bonfires, toasted herbs, and ground ginger. Preserved lemons and citrus zest road an underlying earthiness, chocolate, soot, a kiss of salt, and dried nettles. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with charred driftwood and sweet citrus.
Kilchoman released this as part of a series of small batch products in the US market in 2019. The release provoked fear among some Kilchoman aficionados that the distillery planned to curb its well-regarded single cask program in favor of a product that could be more widely distributed. That did not quite come to pass, though headwinds from other directions have cut down on the single cask program’s ubiquity in the United States. This release combined bourbon and sherry casks, presenting a fairly balanced presentation of the core Kilchoman characteristics. I wished it were just a bit punchier on the palate, but the lower abv certainly made it incredibly easy to finish a pour in no time.
Image Credit: Travis Williams at Kilchomania.com
