Kilchoman Single Bourbon Cask 274/2011 for The Nectar

Cask No.: 274/2011

Cask type: Bourbon Barrel

Distillation Date: 27.5.2011

Bottling Date: 2.4.2018

Age: 6 yo

Strength: 58,8 % abv

Phenol level: 50 ppm

Number of bottles: 266

Bottle volume: 0,7 l

Market: Belgium

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In times when the distributors of Single Cask-Kilchomans are trying to outdo each other with ever new age records – after a wave of 10 year olds and some 11 year olds the first 12 year old has already been released – “The Nectar”, the Belgian Kilchoman importer has chosen a slightly younger bourbon barrel for its latest release. The cask 274/2011 was filled on 27.5.2011 and bottled on 2 April 2018, so the whisky is almost 7 years old. Sister casks, i.e. other casks filled on 27.5.2011, are only known to the Kilchoman specialist as PX finishes, so here you can now taste the “original material”.

In terms of taste, this whisky is a very typical representative of a Kilchoman – from today’s point of view – medium aged in a Bourbon barrel. A very distinct peat smoke nose after a campfire on the beach is quickly followed by the typical Kilchoman notes of cooked yellow fruits, citrus and a little vanilla. In the mouth it is slightly oily, pronounced dry peaty, the fruity notes with citrus and vanilla dominate here too. It still seems untamed, rough and young – especially when tasted, as the author of these lines did, parallel to the very balanced and much more mature 11-year-old Fèis Ile 2018. In the finish, the taster is left with a smoky-dry mouthfeel for quite a long time. (HPN 12/8/2018)

Colour: light gold

Nose: distinct peat smoke (ashy, last night’s bonfire on the beach), cooked yellow fruits, light citrus and vanilla tones

Flavour: slightly oily, dry peaty, distinct fruity notes, citrus, vanilla

Finish: long, dry-smoky

Conclusion: typical representative of a middle aged Kilchoman matured in a Bourbon barrel; looks, especially compared to some older whiskies of the distillery, still quite young and impetuous, but is easy to drink and does not show any disturbing new make or metal notes