I was feeling both excited and a bit shy about tasting the Kilchoman Port Cask when the opportunity came. Excited because I love Kilchoman and, when they’re done right, I love port cask whisky. I was feeling shy because I love Kilchoman, but dislike whisky that’s been “over-ported”. It’s a delicate balance with something so heavy and sweet like Ruby Port, but they took a gamble and it paid off.
In Kilchoman’s Words: Kilchoman Port Cask
“The Port Cask Matured release was the first of its kind when it was released in 2014. This release is fully matured in ex Ruby Port casks allowing for the full influence of the port casks to be imparted into the whisky. It is bottled at 55% abv and has a mahogany color with a touch of ruby. The nose is powerful with lemon and citrus notes and the palate has smoke right away along with sweet, nutty milk chocolate character. There is a heavy textured finish which drifts away to dry smoke with oakiness.”
This one ended up being pretty good, my trepidation was unfounded and now I’m kinda wishing I’d picked up a bottle myself when it was out. Maybe on the next run… Anyways, on to the Kilchoman Port Cask review!
Kilchoman Port Cask Info
Region: Islay, Scotland
Distiller: Kilchoman
Mashbill: 100% Malted Barley
Cask: ex-Port Pipes
Age: 3 Years
ABV: 56%
Cask Strength | Non-Chill Filtered | Natural Color
Batch: 2014
Price: $120
Kilchoman Port Cask Review
EYE
Light purple
NOSE
Raisiny dark fruit, peat, malt, bacon, brown sugar, vanilla and a bit of iodine and saline.
PALATE
Port comes barreling out in a storm of raisiny dark fruit followed by notes of malt, peat, smoked meat, brown sugar, vanilla, brine and an underlying note of an inky iodine-like metallic bitterness.
FINISH
Long drawl of dark fruit, malt, vanilla and peat.
BALANCE, BODY & FEEL
Balanced, full body and an oily feel.
OVERALL
Kilchoman Port Cask is great. It’s so easy to kill a whisky with port and these being aged solely in Port casks had me a bit worried, but it turned out alright. Maybe the casks weren’t sopping wet when they put it in, maybe Kilchoman’s high mineral new-make worked to balance out the ultra sweetness of the port, or maybe conditions aligned just right so it came out balanced and tasty? Whatever the case, this was a good execution of a port matured whisky and I’m looking forward to any future releases they do.
SCORE: 87-89/100 (B+, consumed at a tasting)