Kilchoman 2011 KWM Cask 770
$119.99
Why yes, we do indeed have 50ml mini bottles available from of this cask!
Our 8th exclusive single cask of Kilchoman is a 7 year old matured in a single Ex-Bourbon Cask, No. 770, bottled at 56.8%.
We are big fans of this Islay distillery at Kensington Wine Market. Kilchoman is relatively young by Scottish standards, as they have only been distilling since 2005. Even though much of their single malt releases would still be considered young, Kilchoman produces a robust, rich, and moderate to heavily peated spirit that shows tremendous complexity even at well under 10 years of age.
Andrew's Tasting Note
Nose: honey, candied lemon, butter cream icing and chocolate marzipan; gentle ashy peat, scallops pan seared in butter and delicate fruits: honeydew melon, dried apricots and nectarines.
Palate: starts light but quickly builds with the decadent oak, crisp peat and spices holding centre stage; more honey, butter cream icing and chocolate marzipan; firm maritime smoke, a touch of tar and silky peat oils; more soft fruits, lots of lemon-citrus, more honeydew melons, apricots and nectarines; on the spices front: fennel seeds and licorice root.
Finish: soft, elegant and decadent with fading spices, peat and most prominently, soft delicate fruits.
Comment: Kilchoman is after Arran, our second most bottled single malt, when it comes to KWM Casks; here is another fine example of why that is the case; the whisky, even at a young age is complex, elegant and bursting with fruit; we decided to go a little younger this time, compared to our last two casks, both of which were ten years of age; peat heads will be happy about that!
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 5.66
$159.99
TOFFEE AND TURF
This 15 year old Lowlander comes in at 55% after maturing in a 1st fill barrel.
Flavour profile: Sweet & spicy.
Outturn: 208 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Following the trails of aroma led us along paths of lush grass encapsulating the freshness of green vegetation that occasionally took a detour to tomato plants in a greenhouse. A sweet layer of toffee and fudge floated above a creamy undercurrent of melted butter whilst a waft of pineapple squash introduced soft fruit.
The addition of water kicked into the air a puff of dry dust, perhaps from sun-baked flowerbeds as it mingled with the floral bouquet of sweetly scented flowers. The palate delivered an invigorating dash of chili spice that interchanged with peppermint to create a tension between hot and cold. Green bell pepper revisited a crisp vibrancy that was balanced by vanilla custard before finishing with paprika sprinkled over new wood."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 46.62
$293.99
A BRIDE IN A WAXED JACKET
This 25 year old Speysider was matured in a refill hogshead and comes in at 53.8%.
Flavour profile: Sweet, fruity & mellow
Outturn: 268 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "A typical old Speyside nose – you could be at a wedding – fruit cake (with icing and marzipan), floral bouquets, custard slice, sugared almonds, melon, beeswax and banana split. The palate combines bread and butter pudding and Swiss roll with sherbet lemons, citric peel and refreshers, waxed paper and some wood spices.
The citrus builds on the reduced nose – orange zest, orange blossom, pear baked with honey and clove – and it continues the waxy note (waxed jackets, sand candles). The palate is now beautifully integrated – chewy toffee and nougat, honey, melon and maraschino cherry, with teasing sherbet dip-dabs and tickling ginger spice."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 53.272
$204.99
SPOT ON!
This 11 year old from Islay comes in at 57.8% after maturing in a refill hogshead.
Flavour profile: Peated.
Outturn: 313 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "As soon as we poured the sample a salty, sweet, smoky maritime aroma immediately filled the room - like smoked herring in a sour cream sauce made with apple vinegar, chives and mustard. Smoke and sweetness perfectly balanced on the palate like a ‘smoky spotted dick’ (dessert made with suet and dried fruits) served with custard – a smoky version doesn't really exist, but it does now!
With a drop of water the scent from a nearby peat fire reached us on the quayside where we were mending lobster pots. During a well-earned break we sucked oysters with a sweet soy and ginger dressing."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 66.131
$147.04
FULL STEAM AHEAD!
This 12 year old Highlander was matured in a refill hogshead and comes in at 57.5%.
Flavour profile: Lightly peated.
Outturn: 247 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "We were inside a classic steam locomotive cab with the train driver and the fireman crossing the Glenfinnan viaduct on our way to Hogwarts, no, in fact to Mallaig. Cold, coal dust and ash was all around us but we were snug in a soft cashmere blanket.
When taking a sip neat it felt like the stoker feeding coal into the firebox of the boiler. After we replenished water, we passed ‘the silver sands of Morar’ at full steam and arrived at Mallaig where we had smoked mussels as well as ‘burnt’ carrots and parsnips, enjoying the view to the islands of Eigg, Rum and Skye."
Scotch Malt Whisky Society 113.19
$114.74
THYME FOR A BANANA
This 7 year old Speysider is the first release from distillery no. 113 for SMWS Canada, and comes in at 62.2% after maturing in a refill barrel.
Flavour profile: Sweet & spicy.
Outturn: 254 bottles.
Panel's tasting note: "Attractive aromas of dried flowers and lavender joined the delicate yet woody spice of sandalwood that had been polished with linseed oil. Complex notes of mixed herbs initially suggested herbs de Provence but later condensed into rosemary and thyme on roasted parsnips.
Soft fruit jelly sweets mixed with apple and pear tarts on a palate that embraced the sweet spice of chili jam and camphor. Then came the distinctive character of ripe bananas baked with milk chocolate and a sprinkling of cocoa powder. The finish returned to herbal domains, embracing fennel seeds before cooling tones delivered a pinch of peppermint."
Kilchoman 100% Islay 8th Edition
$124.99
This, the 8th Edition, is a vatting of 23 bourbon barrels and 7 oloroso sherry butts filled between 2008 and 2012, bottled at 50% ABV. A total of 12,000 bottles have been released worldwide, hitting shelves from the 10th of September.
The 8th Edition can trace its origins to the fertile soil of the Kilchoman barley fields. It was here that we harvested Optic barley between 2007 and 2011. Once harvested the barley was hand malted, peated and distilled before being matured in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks. The combination of cask types allowing for an elegant balance of rich spices, citrus sweetness and earthy peat smoke.
Bottled on site, the 100% Islay 8th Edition is without colouring or chill-filtration, standing alone as Islay’s only Single Farm Single Malt, 100% Islay – from barley to bottle.
Though the name might suggest a heavier peating level than our standard 50ppm offerings; Machir Bay, Sanaig and others, the 100% Islay range is in fact peated to a lower level of roughly 20ppm. Although this is not an exact measurement as the small batches and old-style techniques make it almost impossible to peat each batch to exactly the same level.
The key difference between this and previous batches of the 100% Islay is the addition of sherry cask maturation. The seven oloroso sherry casks included in the vatting give the whisky added depth and richness compared to the fresh fruits and vanilla of previous editions.
Kilchoman Vintage 2010
$129.99
The 2010 vintage of Kilchoman has been bottled at 9 years of age after maturing in 42 Bourbon Barrels (85%) and 3 Sherry Butts (15%), before bottling at 48% without colouring or chill-filtering.
Producer Description
"We’ve been launching single vintage releases for a number of years, they are some of my favourite Kilchoman expressions, mostly because they’re classic Kilchoman but also because each marks the development in the age profile of our maturing casks.
"The 2010 Vintage is a vatting of 45 casks, all filled in 2010. It consists of 42 fresh bourbon barrels and 3 oloroso sherry butts, bottled at 48% abv with no chill filtration or colouring (as with all Kilchoman bottlings). A total of 15,000 bottles will be available worldwide from October 16th.
"Until the previous vintage release, 2009 Vintage, the range had been matured exclusively in bourbon barrels however this year’s edition, as with the 2009 Vintage, is a vatting of both bourbon and sherry casks, this time roughly 85/15 bourbon/sherry casks. The balance of bourbon and sherry maturation is a tried and tested combination for us, it allows for both the vanilla and citrus flavours from the bourbon barrels and the rich, spicy influence of the oloroso sherry casks to balance and complement one another."
Old & Rare Heritage Bowmore 30 Year
$839.99
This is a stunning bottling of Bowmore, and it is rocking a 91.8% average on Whisky Base. Distilled in 1989, matured 30 years in a Hogshead and bottled at 48.1%. Only 3 bottles, limit 1 per customer!
Producer Tasting Note
This medium gold whisky has a nose of Islay peat smoke, leather and sea salt. The palate is peaty with notes of lychee, mango, vanilla, and malt. The finish is long and clean, with hints of coal smoke.”
About the Old & Rare Heritage Collection
“Old & Rare Heritage” series: “presented in a dark green bottle and a specially crafted wooden clasp presentation box.This look harks back to the original appearance of the Old and Rare “Platinum” range when it was first released at the turn of the millennium and will be familiar to those who have enjoyed the most sought-after malt whiskies since those days.”
