Kilchoman: 16 Years (Islay Single Malt Whisky: 16 Year: 50% ABV)
Visual: Moderate gold color. Fast thick streaks come from the spirit.
Nose: Germolene. Light oak. Light clotted cream. Peppery. Light tar. Water adds more clotted cream, and shortbread.
Body: Cherries. Charring. Medium rare steak. Smoke. Trifle. Dry peat. Cherry pocked digestives. Oily. Water adds burnt brown sugar. Lots of trifle and lots of fudge.
Finish: Tannins. Sherry trifle. Sultanas. Attenuated. Oily smoke. Soot. Water adds mild condensed cream. Cherries. More smoke.
Conclusion: This is a) delicious and b) changes so much over time. It opens up so full on, with a germolene medical air in the spirit that reminds me in a way of Port Ellen. Always a good thing.
Then it has a meaty taste which I don’t think I have ever had to describe in such a way before. I have encountered smoke, dried, burnt and other such meat notes many a time. This tastes like medium rare steak hovering amongst the smoke and dark fruit, meat but still juicy in a deliciously odd way.
As time goes on those odd elements are still present but very much reduced, especially with water, now letting much more sherry and dark fruit out, in a familiar and tasty way.
There is still soot and some medicinal notes but now much smoother, easy drinking and so fruity in a red and dark fruit way. It finds a balance and range that is incredibly impressive.
Another win for Kilchoman.
Background: Another one from Independent Spirits Uber Whisky tasting. This time the oldest Kilchoman release so far at 16 years – one of only 5000 bottles released. Kilchoman has been a solid hit with me most times, so was looking forwards to this one. It is a mix of 21 casks, mostly ex bourbon with some ex oloroso sherry casks, peated to 50 ppm. I did not come up with the Germolene note myself, I cannot remember which of my fellow drinkers said it due to the weight of alcohol but it captured it perfectly so I “ borrowed” it. Many thanks. As always my notes at tastings may be a tad more scattershot than normal due to the nature of the events. Not my best bottle picture I am sorry to say. Ah well. i blame alcohol.
