Tag Archives: unripened bananas

In a few more years, Kilchoman, this might be *really* good!

Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release – 2012 bottled at 46%

 

Islay region – 46%ABV – $79 – only 100 cases allocated to the US!  This is already sold out in all of the UK shops I’ve checked.

Following Kilchoman’s success story as the months and years go on is a very fun ride for a whisky geek like me.  And really, they go from success to success with a seeming ease

Kilchoman is Islay’s youngest distillery (as many of you know) and the tiny island’s first new distillery in over 124 years.  If that’s not pressure on this small farm distillery, I don’t know what is.

Thankfully, Kilchoman has a great team on their hands as was evident when I visited them back in March of this year.  You can read about my visit with Kilchoman here on the Jewish Whisky Company/Single Cask Nation blog – the post penned by Seth Klaskin.

So here we are today, again following the Kilchoman story line from start up and now getting ever closer to that 10 year mark. (They opened in 2005 so they’ll turn 7 years old in 2012.)  And for today we have their 5yo sherry cask release, bottled at 46%ABV.

On the nose — Peat smoke upfront however, it’s somewhat abbreviated and what follows is a good deal of black licorice (salted licorice at that).

Citrus sweetened green cabbage.  Now *that’s* an odd yet fun note!

More medicinal than expected given Kilchoman’s usual sweet peat profile and the fact that this whisky is from sherry casks.

Some notes of canvas sneakers (slightly loved).

A very promising nose.  The black licorice-like quality is quite nice.

On the mouth — Window putty and fresh caulking.  Somewhat artificial/industrial in flavor.

Slightly sweet yet very drying/tannic from the start.

A touch hot given the strength – it tastes closer to 50-55%ABV or more.

Unripened banana, hints of softening strawberry.

Better yet, Starburst artificial strawberry flavor (subtle though).

Finish — Long finish, the window putty and caulking notes last for a while as does the unripened banana element.

In sum —  This is the first time I’ve tried a 100% sherried Kilchoman.  Comparing this to the others I’ve tried,  I think I more prefer the 1st fill bourbon matured ones or the releases that were a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry (E.G.  the Kilchoman Machir Bay which is just lovely).    I was not really able to connect with this one as I would have hoped.  However, a lot of people out there will enjoy this one for sure. (In fact they already have, seeing as this has completely sold out in the UK and EU where most of the bottles have gone.)  It does show promise for future.  I look forward to trying more sherried Kilchoman.

Special thanks to the good folks at ImpEx for the sample!

Cold Winter, Glen Scotia

Glen Scotia 17yr Single Cask – bottled for the SMWSA – Cask number 93.37

Campbeltown Region – 64.30% ABV – Go here to gain access to bottles from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Glen Scotia is one of three distilleries located in Campbeltown, Scotland.  This was actually the first Glen Scotia I’ve ever had – Glen Scotia whiskies are hard to come by and, to be honest, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a non-independant bottling of Glen Scotia (with the exception of one 8yr old & a 14yr bottling).

As I write up this post I’m looking out the window at what will be the first big snow of the season here in Connecticut.  Staring out at the trees as their branches collect snow & watching the squirrels scurry across my lawn with acorns in their mouths… there’s something near perfect about it.  Even though it’s a bit of an odd duck (as you’ll see below), this particular whisky is perfectly suited for the cold weather and contemplative times such as this.

If only my four year old weren’t watching the original Benji movie while my two year old begs for Monsters Inc instead.  The arguing is really getting in the way of the mood I’m trying to stay in.  Maybe I should pour a wee dram of this SMWSA 93.37…

On the nose — Tough to tell what’s going on here – I’m up to the challenge though.

Initially some spiced vanilla and hot pepper honey.

Fresh soil and barely ripened bananas.

Some mango and a shit ton of pepper!

For some reason I’m reminded of an old friend & girlfriend.  She was actually my first friend (not first girlfriend) ever and I’m reminded of the way her hair would smell after she was working on one of her VW bugs.  Engine oil, perfume and cigarettes.

On the mouth — What the?!  Nothing like the nose.

Carrot juice and splenda.

Firey, hot as hell!  Fried foods without the oil – thin mouth feel yet, enjoyable.

Parsnips and hot pepper/cayenne candy (if there were such a thing).

Dirty 70’s jeans with knee patches (and the glue that burns a bit when you’re ironing the patches on).

Finish — Oak on fire, slight bursts of coconut.

Long and increasingly hot.

Vanilla creeps up after a minute or so and leaves a bourbony flavor in your mouth.

In sum — One of the strangest whiskies I’ve had to date.  This one, like some others I’ve reviewed, is up there with weirdo drams.  Not for every day drinking but great to be used in a tasting of strange drams.

It’s also a damn good warmer-upper!

A big thanks to Aron Silverman for the generous sample!