Kilchoman Private Single Cask 87/2006 for The Stillman´s Switzerland

Cask No.: 87/2006

Cask type: Refill Bourbon Barrel

Distillation Date: 31.5.2006

Bottling Date: 14.12.2015 (according to label), 15.12.2015 (according to bottle code)

Age: 9 yo

Strength: 57,1 % abv

Phenol level: 50 ppm

Number of bottles: 242

Bottle volume: 0,7 l

Bottle code: 87/06 15/12/15

Market: Switzerland

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In 2006 and 2007, Kilchoman sold numerous casks to private individuals in order to obtain urgently needed capital for the distillery’s ongoing operations during the economically strained early years. These were almost exclusively 1st fill and 2nd fill bourbon barrels.
Later, they tried to buy back as many of these casks as possible, as the stocks of whisky from the first years had quickly become very scarce. This buy-back programme was only moderately successful, however, and most owners kept their casks and usually had them bottled after the original agreed storage period of 10 years. So there was a great wave of Kilchoman Private Cask bottlings in 2016 and 2017.

The bottling listed here is one of the not-so-rare examples of whisky shop owners participating in the Kilchoman Private Cask Programme or buying up such casks from the original owner or taking over the distribution.
The whisky merchant The Stillman’s Switzerland had its Private Cask bottled after nine and a half years.

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Tasting notes

Florian Lenhardt:

Nose:
slightly floral, a little vanilla, honey, a lot of smoke, pepper, pear, over time it becomes fruity, sour, the smoke becomes spicier, there is a pinch of cinnamon, malt, still looks a bit young

Taste:
Oily, creamy, vanilla, sweet, also here directly grassy notes, cinnamon, smoke, ash, therefore rather dry, vanilla is present, some oak, chalky, lemon, ripe floury pear, it appears a bit more mature in the mouth than in the nose

Finish:
fresher, more lemon, tart, malt, cinnamon, now the smoke comes again stronger, dirty, ashy, a little gunpowder, dry, astringent, the lemon is getting more and more penetrative and almost goes towards Klostein, long-lasting, the lemon then also swings up again a more pleasant measure, light sweetness comes back, then finishes nicely, in addition, the grass comes back, slightly soapy

In the end, a bit too much lemon for me, even if it just about got its act together in the finish, I’ve had better ex-bourbon Kilchomans.

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Greenkeeper:

Brillliant whisky. Wonderful, outstanding nose. Could nose this for hours. No need for Scotty to beam me up, just nosing this one does the trick.
Fragile character, superb complexity – on the nose.

Now that I know HOW GOOD a nearly ten year old Kilchoman can be, I’m looking forward to the first 12 year old !

The guys that are telling us that Kilchoman is best when young are f-u-*-*-*-*-* liars. When matured in premier casks, this spirit will not deteriorate with more maturation, it still will be getting better and better. There are very good young Kilchomans, but age matters nevertheless.Besides, a lot of things matter. Unfortunately, the taste cannot keep up with that wonderful nose, although it’s still really good.

The body is rich in a quite oldschool way. I’d think that this is the way, whisky probably was made before the atomic age.

Price is high, as it is with most Kilchomans beyond the Machir bay range, but it is still somewhat reasonable compared to quality.

The presentation is as good as with nearly all other Kilchomans.

And last but not least, I like the distillery a lot. Greetings to Peter and James. Just go on !