Kilkerran 8 year old (2024 Release)

Kilkerran 8 year old (2024 Release)

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 57.4%

Price: £58.00

The latest edition of Kilkerran 8 year old was matured in oloroso sherry casks, and bottled at 57.4%. Unlike last year, it looks like we’re sadly only getting one release of Kilkerran 8yo, but on the bright side it does appear if this bottle is easier to get than some of the previous releases.

Nose

The nose has good alcohol integration upfront, along with some pleasant sweetness and light peat smoke in background. It's also a touch syrupy. Notes of cherry cola, toffee, ash, cooked porridge, and wet earth stand out initially. A little air reveals freshly picked strawberries, burnt brown sugar, Cadbury fudge fingers, and a hint of Campbeltown funk.

Palate

The palate offers caramel, tobacco, sour cherries, raspberries, cracked black pepper, complemented by a pleasant background of dirt and cigar ash. It's not overly spicy, yet there is a noticeable and pleasant warmth from the alcohol. The mouthfeel is good, with a finish of decent length where the red fruits linger along with a little ash. It’s good.. just a touch drier than expected given the nose.

Nose (with water)

Upon dilution, the presence of treacle, an intensified Campbeltown funk, and a medicinal note, reminding us somewhat of the aroma of a Laphroaig. The whisky transitions from sweet to a more savoury nose, bringing to mind aromas of cashew nuts and almonds.

Palate (with water)

Mirroring the nose slightly, the reduced palate has less sweetness, with slightly more bitterness and a more prominent tobacco note appearing while also leaning towards the more savoury.. It’s also a touch spicier and we’re find that spice is now outlasting the other notes on the medium length finish. The mouthfeel is still good. We’d skip water on this one personally.

Conclusion

We all expected this to be good, and we can confirm this year’s Kilkerran 8 delivers as expected. Saying that it falls a little short of some of the absolute cracking releases we’ve seen over the past few years. We’d personally rate the last couple of batches as follows:

1. Kilkerran 8 year old Re-charred oloroso sherry casks (2021)
2. Kilkerran 8 year old Sherry Casks (2023)
3. Kilkerran 8 Port Casks (2022)
4. Kilkerran 8 year old Bourbon Casks (2023)
5. Kilkerran 8 year old Sherry Casks (2024)
6. Kilkerran 8 Sherry Casks (2022)

Saying that it’s still a great dram and you won’t be disappointed if you were able to nab a bottle.

Score: 7.5/10

Value

It’s hard to get upset at paying £58 for cask strength sherried whisky.

• 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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