Kilchoman 6 2009 Single Cask Sherry bottled for the Nectar Belgium

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.

I’ve spoken about The Nectar before. They are a Belgium based Independent Bottler that’s roughly over 10 years old. Or as they call it in European history, a week.

I used to think if I, personally, ever had the millions of dollars needed to start a distillery, that I’d start with gin and rum, and then someday eventually make whisky. Now during these flights of fancy, I wonder if instead, I would instead source single casks, aiming to figure out something.

Granted I’d probably do that just to have the general public enjoy parts of Canadian blends that are really tasty.

That brings us to Kilchoman 5 2009 Single Cask Sherry bottled for the Nectar Belgium, which was picked by the Nectar Belgium. Thus I’m jealous that they live in a country where that could be a possible career that doesn’t require massive amounts of money.

Let’s see how this 6-year Kilchoman tastes, shall we?

Price: N/A

Region: Islay

Distilled: 09/17/2009

Bottled: 09/29/2015

Cask Used: Oloroso sherry cask

Cask Number: 429/2009

Number of Bottles: 672

Abv: 59.4%

Colour: 10YR 7/10

Nose: Smoke, raspberry, mint, anise, compost

Nice amount of smoke and raspberry. Each element is pretty strong. Reminds me more of some bourbons in that each flavour is simple but really strong.

I wish it was a bit more complex, though water brings out a compost note, which is interesting.

Taste: Mint, raspberry/cranberry, funk, black pepper, caramel

The funk here amps it up more, and there are some young spirit notes here. Again, strong, individual notes, nice balance between the funk, sherry influence, and smoke.

More interesting than the nose, though I’m still looking for a bit more complexity.

Finish: Funk, smoke, grass, oak, raspberry chocolate, butter

Hot finish. Takes water really, really well. I finally start getting those complex notes. Or at least one, more complex note. Granted its one that I’m coco for cocoa puffs, which I think the kids still say.

So give this water.

Conclusion: An amazing bourbon typed Kilchoman (Editor’s Note: By Bourbon typed, I mean that each flavour is strong and individual, like bourbons, not a bourbon finished on, rather than being a flowing, mixed flavour usually attributed to Scotches). This is certainly unique with big simple flavours throughout. Which isn’t the biggest thing I love, especially in a Scotch. That said, it’s still a wonderful mixture of smoke and red fruits, not to mention funk mixed in.

So while I rate this lower, if you like smoke and bourbon and even unique, fun sherried whiskies, you may really want to grab this. Honestly, I’d still probably grab it as it’s different from other Kilchoman whiskies while still showing off some of the best aspects.

83/100

Scotch review #900, Islay review #233, Whisky Network review #1438