Kilchoman 100% Islay – 2nd Edition

Cask type: Fresh and Refill Bourbon Barrels

Distilled: 2008, 2009

Bottled: 08/2012

Age: 3 yo

Strength: 50,0 % abv

Phenol level: ca. 20 ppm

Number of bottles: ?

Bottle volume: 0,7 l / 0,75 l

Market: worldwide

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On 1 September 2012, the 2nd edition of the “100% Islay” was released. As with the first edition, the whisky produced “from barley to bottle” 100% by the Kilchoman distillery is a vatting of 1st fill and refill bourbon casks, in which the whisky was matured for more than 3 years. Compared to the first edition, however, the casks are supposed to be somewhat older, according to Kilchoman.

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Tasting Notes:

Colour: light gold

Nose: first impression: fruity in a combination of citrus (a lot), yellow fruits (rather little) still somewhat reminiscent of New Make (fruit brandy), hardly any smoke, slightly pungent, also some nut, honey and vanilla.

Taste: slightly oily mouthfeel, alcohol still quite dominant, not perfectly integrated, also yellow fruits and vanilla

Finish: medium long, dry-smoky, slightly bitter at the end

Very similar to the Inaugural Release, but you can tell that the casks used here were a bit older: less new make notes, alcohol a bit better integrated, less yellow fruit, a bit more vanilla. But it still seems a little flat overall, so we can look forward to its further development.