Kilchoman Machir Bay, 2014
ABV: 46%
Region: Islay
Price per bottle: °
Bottling: Distillery
Cask type: Vatting of 5 and 6 yo Bourbon Barrels and Oloroso Sherry Butts

 

Colour: Pale straw.
Nose: Initial peat reek and medicinal flavours (iodine, adhesive tape) intermingle with green apple, hints of toffee, crisp malt, lemon zest and orange peel. White pepper and subtle grassy notes in the back.
Palate: Rich and creamy. Sweet vanilla notes and blossom honey accompanied by peat smoke, burning heather, bitumen, and spicy cloves. Lateron, subtle fruitiness of apricots and cherries emerge with hints of wine gum, freshly cut grass, dark chocolate and winter spice. Extremely mouth-filling.
Finish: A warm hit followed with a long and treacly finish. Bitter dark chocolate with cloves and peat smoke in the aftertaste.
With water: A dash of water significantly decreases the fruitiness bringing the peatiness and the medicinal flavours to the fore. There’s less fruits on the palate with a massive load of winter spices, cloves, pepper and oak. Only a hint of chocolate with peat and smoke in the back. The finish is medium long with bitter orange peel and cloves.
Comments: This dram impressively shows how Kilchoman and their whisky is developing. This delicious malt displays creamy vanilla and delicate fruit from the bourbon barrels, and dark chocolate and winter spice from the oloroso casks, perfectly integrated with the peaty and smoky distillery character. An already complex and rich whisky. Simply stunning for its age.

 

I thank Joe Seidel from Joe's Malt Shop for the photograph!