Kilchoman 2010 Summer Release

"This summer 2010 offering from Kilchoman is the fourth official general release from Islay`s newest (and smallest) distillery. Where previous releases have usually spent some time finishing in sherry casks, there`s no indication of that this time, with the label simply stating that this release has `aged 3 years in fresh bourbon barrels`." TWE

Exceptional for his age, but absolutely he remains young.

The nose is quite nice, but in the taste and finish there's an overly briny note that I don't really dig.

n: beautiful peat, citrus, pepper, lemon zest, lime, ananas, earthy, cloves, light & marinetime, fresh, mango, hint of smoke & herbal t: peat, light, smoke, hint of fruit a: peat, smoke, smooth, pepper, cloves

The colour is yellow straw and the nose is rich with lovely peat aromas and a complex mix of fruit flavors like pear and citrus. In the taste there`s  a  pleasant sweet flavor with nice notes of peat, smoke and mixed fruit. The finish is long and pure with a refreshing taste and  nice smoky notes of the peat.

Smoky and malty aroma, resin, smoked salmon, olives, mint, nutmeg and ripe melon. Vanilla sweet taste, pepper, eucalyptus, grapefruit and malt. Long, peaty and spicy end.

Blind tasting 07-04-2015.

Exceptionally light, straw color. Quite oily structure.

A bit raw and fierce but I like the smoked banana taste. Smells like coals with lemon and shells.

As expected of Kilchoman, this is a great dram, nice peaty, straightforward, clear and lots of taste. A real Islay style.

notes by Dr. James Swan (Whisky Consultant)

I like it, but the Spring 2010 release was a bit more interesting for me personally

Not bad at all but you can smell the youth. A drop of water made it smoother. I was at the farm in 2019 and they improve, I am fan of this distillery. But this dram, not bad but no heigh roller either.

Despite little influence of the barrel interesting and balanced. With +10 years certainly fantastic.

Good islay, too monolithic and sweet.

Kilchoman is wonderful whisky. I can hardly believe this one is so young, but then I feel that about them all.

A very good 3 year old whisky. Noticeably Islay in style, less Bunnahabhain. No noticeable harsh spirit. Priced on the higher end for a 3 year old. Good presentation - sufficient marketing without going over the top.

Unbelievable that a 3-year-old can be so mature. 85/100

Tasty, easy drinking, quite mild, but for my taste a bit overloaded with the mint, which I generally don't like

War Ruins on the Coast Youthful and vigorous, I thought this very early Kilchoman release, the first in the US, had a bit more character than the contemporary Machir Bay. It was a proto-product for the evolutionary line that became Machir Bay, and the Kilchoman DNA is present throughout. It is not hard to see how they went from this product to the current core release. During the charity tasting, I was one of a handful who enjoyed this more than the modern Machir Bay. I found it more maritime and medicinal with a stronger, acrid follow-through. It had more tractor tires and industrial notes than I think one typically finds from the distillery these days. Overall, a lovely peek into the distillery’s past. While I thought this was more characterful than the Machir Bay of today, it was less refined and a bit rougher around the edges, so it is not hard to understand why most might pick Machir Bay over this as their favorite. I seem to like my scotch a bit weird and a bit rough around the edges if that means they stand out more.

Color : pale yellow Aroma : Smoke, sea air, oak and sweet fruits Taste : a lot of smoke, pear and vanilla. Grain Finish : short and strong - brings back the smoke. Conclusion : Is not quite round, but how could he be after just three years. For lovers of smoky whiskys, he is already an experience and can expect great things for the next few years