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Kilchoman Single Cask # 293/2007

Searing Vehemence

2 893

@VictorReview by @Victor

4th Jan 2014

0

Kilchoman Single Cask # 293/2007
  • Nose
    22
  • Taste
    25
  • Finish
    23
  • Balance
    23
  • Overall
    93

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Distribution of ratings for this: brand user

The reviewed sample is compliments of @Nock and from a single cask bottled for Red Dog Wine and Spirits in Nashville, Tennessee. The whisky was distilled Nov 8, 2007 and bottled September 15, 2012, making it 4 years 10 months old. I loved my first taste of this one from a previous sample of this bottle 3 months ago, so, now that I have confirmed that I have a bottle of this waiting for me, I am happy to consume my remaining sample bottle for the purpose of writing this review

Nose: strong sharp acrid-but-pleasant smoke and bitter-sweet peat, some gentle grape fruitiness, and noticeable underlying apple-fruity malt, with a hint of citrus. This is a very focused malt

Taste: Wow! this is as sharp as a razor blade in the mouth, with the nose flavours translating with searing vehemence. I love it!

Finish: long long finish, with a migration toward the previously scarce quality of "sweet", which maintains a good balance with the other flavours which are both sour and bitter. The evolution from nose through finish is one of dry-bitter-sour-astringent moving toward sweet-dry-bitter-sour-astringent

Balance: this whisky makes a very big statement of the bold flavour sort which I love. It is flavourful in a style which is both pointed and intense. There is a good variety of flavours, and smoke and peat lovers will find this one easy to love

What is the purpose of reviewing a unique single barrel expression which will be available to few prospective whisky drinkers? More than anything else I would say that the purpose is to make all whisky lovers aware of the tremendously high quality and distinctive characteristics which are available through being willing to sample the private single cask/single barrel whisk(e)y products which can sometimes be obtained when they are sought out. It very much helps, of course, if you can sample the whisky in which you are interested, but, lacking your own opportunity to sample the whisky yourself, the high recommendation of others is also very useful information to obtain regarding any product in which you may have an interest

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8 comments

@WhiskyBee
WhiskyBee commented

@Victor -- You're right, most of us will probably never get to try this one. But a fascinating review nonetheless, and another foreshadowing of the joys in store when Kilchoman comes of age.

10 years ago 0

@MaltActivist
MaltActivist commented

@Victor I've not had very good experiences with Kilchoman (having tasted three expressions at a tasting a year ago). Which of the standard releases would you recommend?

Thanks for a great review, though - and I agree with your point of digging through and experimenting with private releases / single casks. You never know when you might find a diamond...

10 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@WhiskyBee, thanks for your kind words.

@tabarakRazvi, I would describe my own experiences with Kilchoman as mixed with respect to my enjoyment of their various products. In addition to liking this private barrel, I also very much liked a sample of Machir Bay which I had about 15 months ago. I must say though, that I had some Machir Bay about 3 months ago which I did not like as well. I now know that there are year releases of Machir Bay, and I am uncertain which one it was which I liked a lot, and which one fell flat for me. I have an unopened bottle of the 2012, assuming, and now hoping, that it was the one I liked, and when I open it up I will drop you a note and also review it. I also tried the 2006 Vintage Kilchoman, and I did not like that one at all.

10 years ago 0

@vanPelt
vanPelt commented

And how nice to have good friends with good samples!

10 years ago 0

@Victor
Victor commented

@vanPelt, making good friends is what 'the whisky social network' is all about! Make a friend, and BE A FRIEND. Give...and take.

10 years ago 1Who liked this?

@Nock
Nock commented

Thanks for the lovely review (as always). And I really couldn't agree more. Very glad you enjoyed this bottle as much as I did. It is always nice to have a second opinion on a bottle from someone you trust. It just helps to confirm your own "sense" of things. I scored my last bottle on 4 occasions (I'll have to post a review here soon). On two occasions my crazy system had it at 92.5 and on the other two occasions I had it at 91.5. Obviously, I'll have to average it out at 92 for me. Still, I would say our assessment it on point for two different taste buds and two different rating systems. It is a dang good whisky for just under 5 years old. And Kilchoman is producing some fantastic quality stuff! It makes me want to buy my own barrel!!

10 years ago 2Who liked this?

@Pandemonium
Pandemonium commented

Only had the Machir Bay 2013, but it was quite good, especially given the young age of the distillery. They managed to put out some quality stuff (unlike some other young distilleries) @Nock, I believe they stopped selling casks to individual customers

10 years ago 0

@PeatyZealot
PeatyZealot commented

Luckily in the Netherlands there is a good stream of Kilchomans single casks so after I'm done with the Loch Gorm Im gonna have a look for a single cask strength version. There is one on sale now with a PX finish for €85,- But I just spent €70 on the LG so... who knows :p

10 years ago 0