100 Bottles Only! 20th Anniversary Cask Series from a Rising Star of Islay!

KILCHOMAN LIMITED RELEASE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

ISLAY, SCOTLAND

 

WHY BUY: Change and innovation don't generally come to Islay — that's kind of the point — but the bold and daring Kilchoman has stormed the whisky world with an artisanal purity of method (growing their own barley, double-distilling) that has made their grain-to-glass expressions a darling of critics and collectors alike. We're thrilled to report that we've just secured two rare, limited edition single malts of theirs: their 20th anniversary 15 Year Old (which we have only 100 bottles of), and their 13 Year Old (which we have a larger-but-not-large allocation of). Kilchoman continues to demonstrate its sensitive and patient detail work, here in the matter of casking and maturation to create complexity and depth (the 15 Year Old rested in ex-sherry butts, while the 13 Years Old divided its time among bourbon barrels, octaves, and Calvados casks). These are single malts to sit and linger with and contemplate, whiling away the hours in deep, sustained pleasure.

OUR TASTING NOTES: The 15 Year Old opens with a sort of sophisticated restraint: soft peppery spice mixes and mingles with rich sherry sweetness, while a hint of salty, briny notes reminds you this is unmistakably Islay. The palate delivers rounded richness with a peppery kick, sherry-soaked dark fruits, and gentle smokiness that brings savory, briny character to the fore. The finish stretches on viscously and warmly, balancing rich fruits with salty dark chocolate in perfect harmony between sweetness and smoke. The 13 Years Old takes a completely different path to pleasure. It’s a fragrant and delicate dram, with bursting notes of fresh pineapple, hibiscus, and lemon sherbet that seem almost tropical. The palate turns herbaceous with undertones of dried apple granola, caramelized puffed wheat, and buttered popcorn, while the finish remains light and graceful with orchard fruits and a zesty freshness that lingers long after the final sip.

THE STORY: The distillery is the vision of Anthony Wills, an industry lifer who had been looking to start a project of his own when he and his wife, Kathy, happened upon a bunch of old farmhouses in Islay in early 2005. That was the moment of launch; later that year, the distillery filled its first barrel; four years later, it released its first bottle. The goal has never wavered. Then as now, Kilchoman grows its own barley on site, harvesting, fermenting, and then distilling it to create its grain-to-glass whiskies. Thus, what Kilchoman might lack in gravitas and tradition compared to its island brethren, it works hard to make up for with the artisanal purity of its method. Distilling is done twice through the distillery's four pot stills (two wash stills and two spirits stills). There is never any chill filtering and no color added, which means that what you are getting in the glass is as near to a barrel-tasting experience as you can get.

ABV: 15 Year Old, 52.7% (105.4 proof); 13 Years Old, 50% (100 proof).

FUN FACT: Kilchoman is the first distillery to open on Islay in 125 years, making them the island's youngest operation by more than a century; at the same time, their grain-to-glass approach represents one of the most traditional methods of whisky-making in Scotland.

OUR GUARANTEE: As always, we only buy and source directly from the distillery, so rest assured: your single malts will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance. Order yours today!