Review by: Raygun

Kilchoman has never quite clicked for me. Tried a handful, and felt they were fine to good at best. I know plenty of people who are a lot more enthusiastic about the distillery. I’ll keep trying them, and maybe one day I’ll understand the hype. Reviewed from a sample. Rested about 10 minutes. 

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Distillery: Kilchoman

Bottler: Kilchoman

Region/style: Islay single malt Scotch

ABV: 58.6% 

Age: NAS. Bottled in 2020.

Cask type: Bourbon and sherry casks

Color: 0.4 jonquil. Natural color. Non-chill-filtered.

Price: I think around $90.

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Nose: Shocking no one, a lot of peat. A touch earthy, and a dose of coal smoke. A hint of fruit, but hard to get much of it. 

Palate: The nose wasn’t so developed, but it gets more interesting here. Charred lemon, grilled clams, smoked caramel. A nice mineral flavor. Has a buttery quality. I like the blend of sweet and savory.  

Finish: Pleasantly warming. Gets a little sweeter, and there’s a little more fruit flavor. Mainly citrus, but some apple too. Still smoky and briny. No obviously young notes, which is nice. 

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Conclusion: Can’t be a lot of sherry in this vatting. Tastes mostly like ex-bourbon, though with a subtle extra fruitiness and a touch of earth. Good level of peat, where it’s not the only flavor, though at the same time you can hardly miss it. Ends up very pleasant, if not the most complex thing out there. Here’s a Kilchoman that makes sense to me. 

Buy a bottle? Would consider it, yes.

Score: 80

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Scoring Legend:

• 95-100: As good as it gets. Jaw-dropping, eye-widening, unforgettable whisky. (Convalmore 36)
• 90-94: Sublime, a personal favorite in its category. (Bruichladdich Black Art 4.1)
• 85-89: Excellent, a standout dram. (Ledaig 13 Amontillado)
• 80-84: Quite good. Quality stuff. (Tomatin 18)
• 75-79: Decent whisky worth tasting. (Glen Scotia 15)
• 70-74: Meh. It’s definitely drinkable, but it can do better. (Aultmore 12)
• 60-69: Not so good. I might not turn down a glass if I needed a drink. (Glenmorangie 10)
• 50-59: Save it for mixing. (Old Pulteney 12)
• 0-49: Blech. (Muirhead’s Silver Seal 16)