The distillery quote below goes into a bit more in depth, but what’s really cool about releases like the Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017 isn’t just that it’s Islay barley, but that at its core it’s a different whisky. All materials and the entire process is done on Islay and it’s peated at a lower level to give a different experience than what you get in their other releases.
In Kilchoman’s Words: Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017
“All parts of the production process for the 100% Islay have taken place at the distillery – from barley to bottle; grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled, making for a unique character. We are proud to be the only Islay distillery distilling single malt from barley both grown and malted on Islay. Bottled at 50% ABV and peated to a lower level to that our other releases, 100% Islay has a lighter, fresher feel to it. Citrus and lemon notes come through with soft peat smoke and a long smooth finish. First launched in 2010 a new edition of the 100% Islay has been released every year since.”
While I love the concept and wholly appreciate what they’re doing it doesn’t fully resonate with me like their other releases as you’ll see in the Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017 review below. That said, it obviously still not a bad whisky… most of the time.
Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017 Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Kilchoman
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Bourbon
Age: NAS
ABV: 50%
Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Price: $100
Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017 Review
EYE
Honey golden
NOSE
Salt, minerality, peat, orchard fruit, candy sweetness, vanilla and butterscotch. It’s like a subtle sweetness hitting against a smoky mineral wall.
PALATE
Salty, minerality, peat, orchard fruit, toffee, spice, camphor and a light bit of vanilla taffy and butterscotch.
FINISH
Long spicy fade of peat, minerality and a touch of fruit.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Good balance, medium body and a warm spicy feel that turns dry.
OVERALL
Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017 has some nice sweetness under the heavy mineral, saline and earthy peat. It’s a decent whisky for sure, but it just misses the mark for complexity and balance, it needs more of that fruit and honey sweetness to bring more balance and a more dynamic nature to the whisky.
So far I’ve liked every core release of Kilchoman 100% Islay I’ve had, but none have truly blown me away. I’ve also had some issues with some of the Bruichladdich 100% Islay releases. Which would suggest that terroir does matter to an extent, but maybe that’s not entirely a good thing in this case? Anyways, try the Kilchoman 100% Islay 2017 if you get a chance, it’s a decent whisky that’s worth a sip or two.
SCORE: 86/100 (B)