Kilchoman Machir Bay 2015

By "cool" I mean "cool" as in "cool weather", slightly chilling, because there's some lovely menthol notes to this whisky.

NOSE: delicious vanilla ice-cream with creme brulee, moist cake and a youthful alcoholic note that reminds me of cha-cha (a kind of grappa) that subsides as the whisky is allowed to breathe. It has a delightful fruity component that reminds me slightly of Caol Ila. Fresh ginger, some banana, some fresh pears with whipped cream. The herbal peat is not as dominant here. It's a nice complimentary nuance that makes the nose all the more interesting. With time, there's menthol, burned oak, pears, lemon tart, hints of floral and even white wine-type fruity notes with lemon rind. Wow! 22/25

TASTE: fresh, citrus, lemon zest, orange zest, orange pith, fruity, mineral, oily with big fresh fruits mixed together with dry bonfire notes. There's also a vinegar-like kick to it as well. Vanilla biscuits.20/25

FINISH: burned wood, mineral, slightly watery, warming and very long with a remote hint of iodine. 20/25

BALANCE: 22/25

OVERALL IMPRESSION: for such a young whisky, this is a very interesting Islay experience indeed.

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