Cadenhead’s Kilkerran 12yo Authentic Collection October 2024 & Cadenheads Enigma Lowland 10yo

Cadenhead’s Kilkerran 12yo Authentic Collection October 2024

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 56.8%

Price: £65.00

Distilled in 2011 and matured in a bourbon barrel, this whisky was bottled in October 2024. A total of 204 bottles were released.

Nose

On the nose, initial notes include orange peel, warehouse mustard, toasted grains, ginger, turmeric spice, and vanilla beans. Upon revisiting, additional aromas of Play-Doh, dried apricots, yeast, freshly baked bread, marzipan, and subtle hints of plums emerge. It's a pleasant nose that doesn’t give away its ABV, but only has light peat notes for those looking for a more heavily peated Kilkerran.

Palate

The citrus and ginger from the nose carry through to the palate, accompanied by sweetened apple juice, raspberry syrup, and strawberry Chewits. These flavours persist into the medium-length finish, which has slightly too much spice reminiscent of sweet chilli and black pepper. That spice outlasts the sweeter notes. The mouthfeel is solid. Even less peat on the palate than the nose.

Nose (with water)

With water added, the nose becomes very orange-forward, reminiscent of marmalade, accompanied by buttercream. There's less mustiness, and it leans sweeter, with notes of barley sugars, vanilla essence, and toasted oats really coming through.

Palate (with water)

With a few drops of water, the palate has definitely opened up. The spice is better balanced, and like the nose, it’s very citrus-forward. The mouthfeel remains good, and the medium-length finish now sees the sweetness lingering a bit longer. There's also a slight dryness emerging, reminiscent of dried wood.

Conclusion

For us, this one definitely benefits from a few drops of water, becoming a good example of bourbon cask Kilkerran when diluted. That said, we've had better from Glengyle. It's the kind of whisky we'd happily enjoy if offered, but we don't feel the need to actively seek out a bottle.

Score: 7/10

Value

You won't get much cheaper than £65 for a cask strength 12-year-old Kilkerran.

Cadenheads Enigma Lowland 10yo

Region: Lowlands

ABV: 54.9%

Price: £50.00

There’s limited information available about this 10-year-old, other than it being re-racked into an Oloroso hogshead since 2023. We don’t have details on the number of bottles released. We've heard from a little birdie that it may be teaspooned Ailsa Bay...

Nose

The nose opens with lemon sherbet, lime cola, milk chocolate and ginger cake. Upon revisiting, notes of blueberry jam, pear drops, prune juice, and caramel sauce come through. While it doesn’t nose its ABV, it feels a touch off, as if the original cask or spirit notes are fighting with the sherry influence instead of gelling.

Palate

On the palate, red berries, cola syrup, prunes, raisins, cranberries, and cinnamon spice take centre stage. Unlike the nose, the sherry influence dominates here. It’s surprisingly smooth for the ABV, with a medium-length finish where the sweetness and warming cinnamon spice lingering. The mouthfeel is also decent.

Nose (with water)

With water, the nose reveals caramelised brown sugar, more cola, dark chocolate, orange rind, and raisins, along with earthy undertones. It feels like the sherry has pushed itself to the fore now.

Palate (with water)

Burnt brown sugar, chocolate orange, and a hint of dark chocolate bitterness with treacle lead the palate, making it noticeably sweeter. The mouthfeel is perhaps slightly thinner, though not significantly so. The finish remains of good length.

Conclusion

We kind of liked the funky pre-diluted nose, but we have to admit it takes water well. When diluted, the nose mirrors the palate, turning into a tasty sherry bomb that’s easy to drink, though it’s not the most complex dram out there.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

Cask strength whisky doesn’t get much cheaper than £50.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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