Kilchoman Casado & Kilchoman Cask 903/2015 (Kilchoman Appreciation Society Release)

Kilchoman Casado

Region: Islay

ABV: 46.0%

Price: £76.00

Kilchoman Casado (Portuguese for marriage) was matured in first fill bourbon barrels for 6 years before the casks were married together for 2 years in two 6,000 litres Portuguese red wine vats with char levels 2 and 3. It is bottled at 46% ABV without chill-filtration or added colouring. 12,900 bottles were released.

Nose

We’re initially getting notes of log burning fire, peaches, dirty soil and red grapes. Going for a second sniff we notice gingerbread, marzipan and some vanilla sweetness from the bourbon casks starting to show. A little time in the glass reveals a nice minerality, fresh beetroot (not pickled), lavender potpourri, and salty sea air.

Palate

The initial sip has sugar syrup, red fruits, salt water, lemon juice and white icing sugar all nicely balanced by light peat smoke. As it lingers on the tongue we’re getting a fair amount of ginger spice on a good length finish along with cinnamon, and cloves. It's a touch too hot for us, surprising at 46%. We’re also finding the mouthfeel is a touch thin, but it’s not terrible. Going back to and we’re not really picking out much else. It’s a touch simple, but not bad.

Nose (with water)

Reduced there’s a little Islay sea air appearing along with custard, a dunnage warehouse funk and raspberry jam. We’re finding it’s now a touch less smokey, and the log burning fire is down to the last few embers. Going back there’s cold butter, more earth and lemon zest.

Palate (with water)

A few drops of water brings the sweetness to the fore and we’re reminded of flat lemonade. The finish is still a touch spicy, but now there’s more sweetness along with the spice. As the whisky lingers on the tongue we're notice a slight bitter / burnt note that we're finding slightly off putting. At least the mouthfeel remains consistent.

Conclusion

It’s worth noting we’re not getting a massive amount of red wine influence here, but what there is here is nice, if a little simple. Personally, we’d avoid adding water to this. If this was around £50 we could probably stretch to a 7.5, but at £76 and 46% we can’t go higher than a 7/10.

Score: 7/10

Kilchoman Cask 903/2015 (Kilchoman Appreciation Society Release)

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.9%

Price: £88.00

If you’re unaware, the Kilchoman Appreciation Society is a Facebook group of Kilchoman lovers. 50 of their members chose a first fill Sauternes Cask (No. 903/2015) from 4 different cask samples in an online tasting with Anthony Wills to be bottled exclusively for the group. The cask was distilled 18th November 2015 and bottled 13th of April 2022 at 6 years old. 300 bottles were made available.

Nose

Initially we’re getting wet pebbles, tar, buttery crumpets and charred peaches. Going back to it and we’re getting dunnage warehouse funk, and papaya. Leaving it in the glass for ten minutes reveals pineapple, yeast. mango, and chantilly cream.

Palate

On the first sip the smoke and dirt are the dominant notes. Along with those we’re getting mackerel, seaweed and a vegetal note. It’s got just the right amount of spice in the form of raw ginger, cloves and cardamom on the finish. Along with the spice there’s a nice sweetness that lingers I for a good while. It’s got a good mouthfeel. A little air reveals more of the sweetness and we can pick out notes of creme brûlée and panna cotta.

Nose (with water)

It tastes more bitter and spicy with the addition of water. The smoke has been pushed into the background and it’s now very earthy. The mouthfeel remains good. The extra spice carries on through to the finish. Going back to it and we’ve identified the bitter note as Mozart Dark Chocolate liqueur.

Palate (with water)

Similar to the reduced nose, there's a sourness that's appearing on the initial palate, following into a mixture of sweet and salty popcorn and ending in overly sweet peat smoke. The mouthfeel is even thinner now, which is a touch disappointing.

Conclusion

We’d skip adding water to this one. Without dilution this is a very tasty dram. A 6yo Scotch shouldn’t be £88, but if it’s going to be that expensive it should at least be as tasty as this.

Score: 8.5/10

• 10 - Perfection. A whisky that we’ll remember forever.
• 9 - Amazing. We’d pay through the nose for a bottle.
• 8 - Great. Pick this up at RRP.
• 7 - Good. Happy to have a dram or two but wouldn’t buy a bottle.
• 6 - Passable. Would accept a dram, but wouldn’t seek it out.
• 5 - Poor. Would drink if it was the only option.
• 4 - Bad. Maybe it can be saved by ginger beer?
• 3 - Awful. It can't be saved by ginger beer.
• 2 - Pour it out
• 1 - We’ve never tried a whisky rated this low and hopefully never will.

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