New Limited Release: STR Cask Matured

For May 8, 2019, Kilchoman has announced the release of a completely new limited bottling, the “STR Cask Matured”.

The STR Cask – the letters stand for Shaving, Toasting and Re-Charring – is an invention of James Swan, who unfortunately passed away far too early. As an expert and consultant, Swan had a decisive influence on the planning and operation of Kilchoman Distillery in its early years.

The inner surface of used red wine casks is first shaved to create a new surface of fresh oak wood with low red wine saturation. This leads to a more subtle red wine note of the whisky stored in this cask than is the case with unprocessed red wine casks. The inner surface is then toasted, i.e. heated over a fire made from oak chips obtained from used cask staves. This leads to a caramelisation of the sugars and vanilines contained in the fresh wood. Finally, the cask is then burnt out (re-charred) to ensure a high level of flavour extraction from the wood.

Anthony Wills selected 43 STR Hogsheads for the release, which had been filled in 2012. The whisky was bottled at 50% abv.

“The STR cask balances influence from both the new and used oak to create a powerful combination of rich fruit, oak, spice and maritime peat smoke.” Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder & Managing Director.

“Rarely have I tasted such a fruit-forward Kilchoman that accentuates the peaty, smoky character rather than masking it.  The summer fruits and citrus combine with an earthy peat smoke character to create a combination of flavours that I haven’t tasted in our whiskies before.” James Wills, Sales and Marketing Manager.

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The bottles are due to be available in the UK from Wednesday 8 May, and later in the week in continental Europe. A limited number will be available from 12 noon on 8 May 2019 for £79.98 in the Kilchoman Online Shop.

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