Kilchoman Coull Point

New series called “There will be Kilchoman till the score is paid”, in which I review Kilchoman until I run out of Kilchoman.

It’s a simple concept.

So a few years ago I happened to be at Heathrow airport. And I meant to be there too, because I was flying home from drinking a lot, or as the rest of the world calls it, visiting the UK.

I enjoyed Kilchoman. During my previous journey, I had hunted down a single cask bottling that was for the UK, stealing it away to the colonies to drink it. This time? A Heathrow exclusive bottling, Kilchoman Coull Point, would be my bounty.

It was easier to find, what with being sold in one place and all. This special bottling was NAS and made up of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry cask finished whiskies. And while it wasn’t casked strength, when was I able to try this again? I don’t exactly live next door to the UK airport.

Thus I bought it. And proceeded to open it for swaps, ensuring more people could try this travel exclusive, and get the word going. Yes, I’m like god and Johnny Appleseed. You’re welcome.

The above was, of course, a joke for those of you without a sense of humour.

However in my swapping and hoarding Kilchoman, I may have forgotten to review this myself. Opps. Let’s see how it tastes, shall we?

Price: Can’t Remember

Region: Islay

Cask Types: Bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts for the finish

Abv: 46%

Colour: 7.5Y 9/8

Nose: Mesquite, molasses, pear, weak orange, pickle

Initial nose is that inviting BBQ flavour mixed with aspects of a BBQ sauce (molasses, some citrus, some vinegar). And then it kinda ends. Abruptly. Like it’s in the middle of a

Taste: Vitamin C tablet, mineral water, dusty, ginger

Lots of mineral and watery. Super light on the tongue. Dusty, spice, and generally not great.

Basically, it’s that high vitamin C drink that was sold as a cure-all and really did nothing. At least this one has alcohol.

Finish: Smoked fish, dill, brine, ginger, lime

Yes, smoked fish. No, not in a subtle, nice way. It’s smoked fish, strong, and dill. And light amounts of spice.

Overall there are aspects of this that are tasty. And the smoked fish does go away after an initial hit.

Conclusion: There’s better Kilchoman’s on the market, buy them. This is light and has a good nose on it. The taste is really bleak. The finish starts rough and then improves.

It’s nice, however, Kilchoman makes a better product. So… Uh, sorry to all the people I swapped this to. I’ll pick differently next time.

64/100

Scotch review #896, Islay review #228, Whisky Network review #1434