Kilchoman 7 2008

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.

The first time we do anything is universally seen as a big moment. If we think about sex, the ideas of the first kiss and first time come up quite a bit. If we think about school, the first day of elementary, middle, and high school, as well as college/university are always discussed. Not to mention parents will list off the first times their kids do something, from screaming at some random person cutting their hair to their first happy steps.

What about whisky, that thing that I write about? Well, first times still have a place in whisky. People will discuss their first whisky tried, their first whisky enjoyed (note those rarely intersect), their first whisky cocktail you enjoyed, and that first time you tried a peated whisky.

Heck, some of us never get past the first time you drank too much whisky and don’t really remember the night.

For Kilchoman they are a new distillery on Islay. As such, they have younger whiskies. The oldest one can currently purchase is eleven years old, which is young by Scotch standards, moderate by world whisky standards, and old by bourbon standards (I tease). However, in 2015 they celebrated a new milestone, with their first seven-year-old release, Kilchoman 7 2008.

So let’s see how time and age has affected the “good at a young age” whisky from Kilchoman, shall we?

Price: Sold out

Region: Islay

Distillation Date: July 2008

Bottling Date: August 2015

Cask Type: American oak ex-bourbon

Abv: 46%

Colour: 7.5Y 9/6

Nose: Cedar furniture, butterscotch, smoke, pears, cloves

Initial nose with lots of wood on it. Close to a virgin oak cask than an ex-bourbon cask. That eventually subsides to more of the rich caramel/butterscotch notes with the standard spice/smoke of Kilchoman.

Honestly, it’s a little simple, if I’m being honest, which is why I said honestly at the start. It’s nice, and don’t get me wrong, I’m not annoyed by any of the notes (otherwise whisky wouldn’t be my thing), I’m just… hoping for something more complex given the age, I guess?

Taste: Ash, butter, lemon cookie, gingersnaps, pear

Here we go, now we have more. This starts out with a lot of ash, but that is blown aside (I know, I laugh at myself a lot) you get this wonderful well-developed cookie flavour. Good amounts of spice, some acidity and fruit to balance it all out.

Now we’re cooking with gas.

Finish: Bacon, fresh whole wheat bread, anise, nutmeg, hot sauce

Clean. Not boring and clean, I should start. There are clean whisky finishes that just end, but without off flavours, and the ones that have a clean finish and still give you something.

This is the second. Lovely developed spice, heat, and a wonderful bread note. Really I should feel happy that I know how to make bread and yet don’t just make it and lay around eating it.

Conclusion: Sad about the nose. Really am. This is a subtle, interesting dram with a nice sweet, tasty butter cookie aspect, and finishes with lots of bread, spice, and bacon. Like a really good sandwich.

I just wish the nose wasn’t so muted. I 100% blame the Abv. in this case, though accept I’m saying that without being able to back it up. Perhaps the casks used just didn’t give a great nose. All in all, a good first seven year. Now I’d like to try some more, please.

83/100

Scotch review #900, Islay review #232, Whisky Network review #1438