Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 6
Whisky: Kilkerran Heavily Peated Batch 6
Country/Region: Scotland/Campbeltown
ABV: 57.4%
Cask: Bourbon (75%), Sherry (25%)
Age: N/A (Bottled 14 April 2022)
Nose: Dusty earth, garage, orchard fruits, pie, custard, malty pastries, lacquered wood, hints of oranges and mint.
Palate: Medium-bodied, cream and malty pastries, orchard fruits, dried grass, dusty earth, bright citrus and pepper at the end.
Finish: Medium-length and slightly drying with some youthful spirited pepper, apple skins, and earth.
Score: 6-7 (79)
Mental Image: Picnic Desserts on the Soccer Pitch
Narrative & Notes: Dusty earth and diesel engine fumes cleared out as apple pie and pear custard arrived for judging at the county fair. The aroma was sweet and creamy with orchard fruits, butter, and a malty pie crust, while dirtier, grungier notions lingered in the background. More lacquered wood and modeling clay sat further in with hints of Mandarin oranges, jasmine tea, and mint. Medium-bodied with a sweet sugary arrival that landed somewhere between crème brûlée and apple fritter donuts. Dried grass and plenty of dusty, earthy fields lingered in the background while a bright citrus note, almost effervescent at times, popped on the front with a bit of spirited pepper. The finish was medium-length and slightly drying with some youthful spirited pepper, apple skins, and earth.
You could have told me this was a Benromach and I might have believed you. It was loaded with plenty of orchard fruits and earth, with only hints of autumn dry leaves and chimney smoke. The flavor profile tipped in a sweeter direction than previous releases with more refined sugar and cream on the palate. It was also peppery and spirited, though none of these heavily peated releases are particularly tame and this one lacked some of the wilder, feinty qualities that I know some found unpleasant in the debut batches. Yet, the whole thing felt a bit less cohesive and coherent as some of the dirtier notions conflicted with the sweeter side.
Overall, not a bad whisky by any measure, but not at the same heights as some of the earlier heavily peated releases— at least in my humble opinion.
