Kilkerran 16yo (2023 Release)


After our recent reviews of the new releases from Springbank, we turn our attention to Glengyle distillery and the newest release of Kilkerran 16 year old.

Kilkerran 16yo (2023 Release)

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 46.0%

Price: £70.00

This is the 2023 release of Kilkerran 16 is a vatting consisting of 60% sherry, 35% bourbon and 5% rum casks.

Nose

On the nose, we’re met with a mellow nose, bringing out tropical fruits, pineapple, mango, papaya and a little bit of mashed banana too. It’s a very well balanced nose, tropical fruits, boiled sweeties, a little bit of saltwater and brine. Coming back to it after some time and air, we’re getting light caramel, vanilla frosting, buttery crumpets and a bit of lemon zest too.

Palate

The palate opens with sweet lemon ice tea, white chocolate, caramel wafers, vanilla flavoured fudge and Frosties breakfast cereal. The mouthfeel is good, there’s a nice creamy texture, and it’s got a medium length finish with darker cocoa notes and a bit of sea salt too. Time and air brings out whipped cream, a bit of white pepper bite and freshly squeezed lemon juice. The white chocolate moved into more of a milk/higher percentage cocoa chocolate as the dram opens up in the glass.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose bring out more orchard fruits, green apple, pear chutney, a hint of varnish, but the type you’d use on old antique furniture. There’s still a lot of the vanilla, light oak and white chocolate from the unreduced nose.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate maintains the silky mouthfeel, creamy vanilla, but a little bit more oak appears, milk chocolate, and caramel fudge. It’s slightly woodier in general, and has lost a bit of the lighter, sweeter notes we enjoyed before. We’d probably avoid adding water, the dram doesn’t need it.

Conclusion

This is really really good. It’s well balanced, lots of fruit, a bit of citrus, and some salt to keep it interesting. It’s got a great mouthfeel and good finish, especially for the ABV. Nothing really to complain about, and our favourite of the Kilkerran 16 releases.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

Really good value for a 16yo Campeltown malt, you can’t go wrong.

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  • 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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