Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2024

Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2024

Region: Islay

ABV: 53.0%

Price: £110.00

The Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2024 release is a vatting of two fresh bourbon barrels, distilled in 2011. Interestingly, this batch of malt was not dried with peat, making the Fèis Ìle 2024 release one of the few unpeated expressions from Kilchoman. A total of 480 bottles were released exclusively at the distillery shop.

Nose

On the nose, this whisky has notes of dirt, dry earth, black pepper, and ginger spice, accompanied by heaps of citrus, most notably orange peel. There’s also tar, dry wood, and a touch of dry roasted peanuts. After letting it breathe, additional aromas of dust, with hints of fudge and vanilla, become noticeable.

Palate

On the palate, there is a touch of honey and strawberry laces, complemented by bonfire smoke and peat, and wet earth. The spice profile includes black pepper, cardamom, and ginger. There are also notes of orange peel and a slight bitterness from grapefruit. The taste closely mirrors the nose and we’re finding the alcohol in good balance.. The mouthfeel is satisfying. The finish has a medium length, with spice persisting and predominating over the other flavours.

Nose (with water)

Adding water to the nose reduces the prominence of dry earth, tar, and general smokey notes. In their place, there's an increase in the aroma of dry roasted peanuts, accompanied by cupcakes. Additional scents of limoncello, candy floss, and barley sugars also emerge, creating a sweeter profile.

Palate (with water)

With water added, the mouthfeel remains decent, and the citrus notes on the palate become more pronounced. Like the nose the profile becomes slightly sweeter, featuring a more noticeable honeyed note. Unfortunately, the spice continues to dominate, outlasting the sweetness on the medium-length finish. We’re also noticing an almost smokey note appearing as we sit with it.

Conclusion

It's always intriguing to try some unpeated Kilchoman, and this release is no exception. It's a decent dram with some interesting flavours, but it has a few minor flaws and lacks complexity, which pulls its score down. Despite these issues, we'd happily enjoy another dram or two.

Score: 7/10

Value

This release feels pricey, but then it’s been a while since any of the Fèis Ìle releases could be considered good value.

• 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.

If you like what you’ve read then check out our social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) to get notifications of when we post a new review or just to chat about whisky with us.