Kilchoman Machir Bay bottled 2014

My first purchase of a Kilchoman having tried a few samples at a festival last year. As I'm sure you all know, Kilchoman is Islay's farm distillery and does everything on-site (I believe). Fair play! This bottle is just less than half full and been open almost three months. I'm having it neat.

Nose: Under ripe banana, anise, a hint of stable, brine, gammon, lemon and lime rind, eucalyptus, ash smoke and some medicinal notes (winter green)

Taste: Lemon rind upfront, sour then the fruity banana comes out. The peat comes in as it develops with ash and aniseed rock sticks. A little creamy vanilla. Slight waxy mouthfeel.

Finish: Smoke and ash, pleasantly bitter tannins. Medium - long

Overall: This is very good but it's worth noting that it has improved lots over the few months it's been open. I feel like the young age of this (4 - 7 years at a guess?) stops it from developing complexity - the flavours are quite bold; but I think this style of whisky can sometimes be better for it, if you like your peat! Not one I'll be rushing to buy again but I can't wait for a 10 - 12 year old release; I think it will be a star when it comes of age.

I've just got back from a very interesting Japanese whisky tasting event. Some good classic Japanese whiskies (Nikka from the Barrel, Hakushu 12, Yamazaki 18, to name a few) coupled with some delicious food made for an extremely satisfying evening.

But I decided to leave early and come back home to the Kilchoman Machir Bay as my last expression of the evening.

Kilchoman and I have a history. Three years ago I tasted a couple of young releases in the presence of Anthony Wills (founder of said distillery) and it was all I could do to prevent my self from spitting the liquid back out in the glass.

This was followed by a three year program on Kilchoman abstinence which was eventually broken by the Kilchoman 2013 Small Batch Release finished in Oloroso sherry casks.

I was floored. What an absolutely amazing whisky.

Anthony Wills here is another apology from me for writing you off.

This got me interested in other, newer, Kilchoman releases and when I heard good things about the Machir Bay I just had to get my self one of their dumpy bottles.

Machir Bay 2014 is a vatting of 5 and 6 year old ex-bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry butts and is bottled at 46% ABV

Nose: Very sweet peat. Sugar cane. White wine. Chardonay. Very tart. Crisp. Fresh white oak. Fennel. Lime. Raspberry. Cumin. Cedar plank. Vanilla. Let it breathe and white dough comes wafting through. Finally pineapples. White grapes. A very fresh and lovely nose.

Palate: Very smooth. Extremely smooth to drink. Coffee. Apricots. Pears. Peat. White grape. Black peppers. Macaroon cake. Cumin seeds. Very palatable.

Finish: Smooth. Peat. Mint. Oily. Cumin. White melon lozenge.

This is another extremely accomplished spirit from Kilchoman. Wonderfully smooth and completely thought through.