Kilchoman 7 Year Old 2012 Rum Finish for The Nectar

This single cask was bottled for The Nectar, Belgian importer. After a regular maturation on a bourbon cask, it was finished on a rum cask from Barbados. The malt has it’s usual 50ppm and the whisky was bottled at cask strength.

The DNA of bourbon matured Kilchoman is clearly present, which I applaud. Lots of peat smoke, citrus fruit and vanilla. The influence of the rum cask is certainly not over the top in my book, but just right. It adds some sweetness in the guise of honey, pineapple and sugared almonds. You do feel the alcohol on the nose, though.

The first sip is a belter! Very powerful and spicy on ashes, peat smoke like there is not tomorrow and lots of citrus fruit. Only after the initial fire has been doused on the palate do the sweet notes kick in. They add pineapple, mango, marzipan and sugar cane. Nevertheless it remains a maritime malt.

The finish is medium long and surprisingly sweet. The rum notes now dominate with lots of vanilla, mango and pineapple… oh… wait… yes, I should have known. The peat smoke and salty element return at the death. Very dry at the very end.

The rum influences are very clear, yet under control I think, allowing the spirit to shine. This is a very good release indeed.

Find where to buy Kilchoman whisky