Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2025

Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2025

Region: Islay

ABV: 57.5%

Price: £97.50

This release was matured in two refill Madeira hogsheads, distilled in 2015, lightly peated to 20ppm, and bottled in 2025 at 9 years old. A total of 615 bottles were released.

Nose

The nose starts out very earthy and savoury. Dry soil, beetroot, cucumber, and honeycomb come through first, with a subtle sweetness in the background from BBQ sauce. Going back and there are notes of crusty white bread rolls, cashew nuts, and faint wood smoke. The peat is well integrated but far from the dominant aromas. The alcohol is noticeable, showing as black pepper, but doesn’t overwhelm. With time, orange peel and grapefruit start to make an appearance.

Palate

The alcohol is well integrated, and there’s very little alcohol bite here. A burst of peat and ash arrives up front, but it’s quickly overtaken by stone fruits, ginger, and roasted coffee. A hint of white pepper carries through to the finish. Pleasant flavours, but any sweetness we’d usually associate with Madeira is dialled back. The mouthfeel is solid, though the dram is drier than expected. As we sit with it we notice the medium finish leaning into floral and herbal territory, with musk and lavender making an appearance alongside that white pepper. We might have mistaken this for a young Ardbeg rather than a Kilchoman if tasting blind.

Nose (with water)

The addition of water dampens some of the intensity of the pre dilution notes, but most of what was coming through remains. There are now some added notes of hand cooked plain crisps, and warm plastic The peat recedes a little more as we sit with it, but as we said this is relatively unchanged.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate introduces a bit more bitterness with that roasted coffee shining through. The mouthfeel loses something and the finish becomes more muted. Citrus peel, and a mild Parma violet note now appears on the mid palate. Those musk and lavender notes are less prominent now, while the peat fades further. Sitting with we notice it becoming more savoury, with roasted cashew nuts and a touch of salt really coming to the fore.

Conclusion

To us, this doesn’t taste like quintessential Kilchoman. It’s more subdued and delicate. We’ve had much more aggressive Kilchoman releases at this age. The profile also leans closer to Ardbeg than to the distillery’s usual signature style. That said, it is well balanced, with some interesting layers for those who enjoy a more restrained take on Islay peat.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

No, it is not cheap, but it is fairly priced for a Fèis Ìle limited release compared to other distilleries.

• 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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