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Kilkerran
A splendid batch of Kilkerran Heavily Peated single malt from Campbeltown's Glengyle distillery. Predominantly matured in bourbon casks, these heavily peated cask-strength batches are released twice per year.
As always, good stuff from Kilkerran. Peaty, but different from your typical Islay as there are no medicinal notes, only dry smoke. Well worth the asking price. Noticably young, but more than interesting enough.
First thing that hits on the nose is the abv, but as you back off it developed into a lovely smoke. Petrichor and campfire embers. The notes are soft but they fill your nose Palate wise; if there is such a thing as a salt pastry, brine drizzled, citrus pie, served only with an ocean breeze.... then this is it. The savoury hits first, accompanied by buttery, salted short crust pasty. Then blood orange follows with a briny salt water olive juice. Sounds contradictory but somehow works really well The finish is nose filling. As the palate disperses, the smoke burst into my nose leaving me with very similar notes to the initial nose. Then I went back for more
The softest nose of the first 3 batches and, as good as it is, it feels lacking Absolutely get the baked earth and bacon notes but feels like its trying to be a soft islay rather than embracing Campbeltown. Palate is so much better. So herbal with a lip smacking funkiest that brings you back to the Kilkerran roots. The oils are mouth filling and peppery, it starts to fire your taste buds and the flavour intensify quickly (may be the abv kicking in). Finishing is fleeting but not in a necessarily bad way. The smoke is there but its an afterthought to the salty brine you are left with. Its pure savoury on the end. Those herbal notes paired with a salty finish is outstanding Nose is a share but the rest easily makes up for it
I get an almost lemony refresher note on the nose at first. Almost like a sour patch kid or citrus sherbet. Its great It then moves to the empty espresso cup and old oak. Considering the high abv there's very little nasal burn either M.o.m. palate is spot on. Salted caramel with a buttery shortbread on the back. Sweet but saline Finish is a burst of smoke that dries the mouth. In a good way though, it makes you salivate and want to go back to the dram Kilkerran are producing some incredible whiskies right now. Even ignoring the ridiculous value in the price points then would stand above
Kilkerran have a real habit of finding balance in a whisky. The peat smoke is absolutely there but it has such depth to go with it And at that price? If you manage to get one on release you will always have a whisky that outshines its price tag
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