The EXPLORE Whisky club (see here for our initial impressions) have given us the opportunity to once again look at what they are up to and we were more than happy to oblige.

This months release is from one of our favourite Islay distilleries (family owned to boot!) Kilchoman, who are one of the new kids on the (Islay) block but have been punching well above their weight since their first release and wowing punters and building a cult following ever since.

Rockside Farm — where the magic happens!

Kilchoman 2009 Vintage Single Malt Scotch Whisky 700ml, 46% ABV Owner: Kilchoman Distillery Company Limited Kilchoman are relative newcomers to the Scotch scene, having commenced production in 2015, as the first new distillery on Islay in nearly 125 years. Kilchoman is family owned and situated at Rockside Farm (on Islay). The MD Anthony Wills had a background in Independent Bottling prior to founding Kilchoman and selected Rockside Farm as it had the right mix of location, history and suitable buildings along with a reputation for some of the best maltings in Scotland.

The Kilchoman whisky we are looking at today is a Vintage release from 2009 (which means its a marriage of several casks laid down in 2008 and 2009) with an 8 year old age statement bottled at 46%. This the fourth Vintage series release from Kilchoman since the first 2006 Vintage released in 2011. This release contains Olorosso and Bourbon casks, the first Vintage release to include Sherry — the first three were exclusively Bourbon cask).

More of this please :D

Nose: Bright lemon zest, tarred hemp rope from an old abandoned rowboat. A nice caramel/vanilla mix laced throughout which lifts the smoke along with the citrus to make an enticing and delicious nose. Dusty old leather chair…

Palate: Smoke is the (obvious) star here with what feels like a mid to high level peat/smoke combo (somewhere between an Ardbeg and a Port Charlotte). Lots of vanilla toffee chew as well as hints of super light dried sultanas with a slight acid hit of citrus and smoke on the tail. Finish is decently long leaving an impression of sitting around the campfire the morning after.

Check out the thoroughly recommended EXPLORE Whisky Club to sign up and grab your bottle today — tell them The Whisky List sent you!