Back in January 2007 I wrote a story about my visit to Kilchoman (the visit had actually happened in September of 2006).
At that time I wrote:
When can I buy it?
While you cannot yet purchase Kilchoman whisky (and won’t be able to until 2009 when approximately 3,000 bottles will be offered) you can purchase (in the gift shop) miniature bottles of Kilchoman new make spirit.I tried the undiluted 50 ppm new make (around 68% abv) and found it to be quite good – very clean and crisp, sweet but with very strong peat and smoke.
Like so many other new distilleries, Kilchoman plans to do releases
every year starting with the three-year old in 2009 and continuing with yearly releases until the whisky reaches 10 years. They also plan to hold back stock for very limited older bottlings.
Well, guess what? It’s 2009 and Kilchoman is finally ready to release their whisky… But they are waiting until the (possibly significant) 9th of September (09-09-09, get it?)
Back when I tried the new make spirit, I found it to be one of the most pleasant NMS I had ever tried. I have no doubt the final product will be a great addition to the tradition of interesting and varied Islay whiskies.
Kilchoman Distillery, the first built on Islay for nearly 100 years, will release its eagerly anticipated inaugural single malt whisky on the 9th September 2009. Initially bottles will be allocated to 14 key malt markets worldwide as well being available from the distillery shop and via the on-line shop.
Production started in late 2005 and annual production is between 90,000 and 100,000 litres of alcohol; 30% of the spirit is distilled from barley grown and malted at the distillery and the balance comes from the Port Ellen Maltings on the island. The two malts are kept separate during distilling and Kilchoman will release two different expressions of single malt. The majority of maturation (80%) is in fresh bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace and the remaining 20% in fresh Oloroso sherry butts.
Anticipation of the release has been growing since a bottle from the first cask filled at the distillery was auctioned during Kilchoman’s open day during Feis Ile, the whisky festival in May 2009. A number of collectors and whisky enthusiasts were present for the auction and the bottle eventually sold for £5,400.
The malt has been matured in fresh bourbon barrels and finished for six months in Oloroso sherry butts. In order to maximise flavour and texture, the single malt whisky will be bottled at 46% ABV at natural colour and non chill-filtered.
Tasting notes from Kilchoman Single Malt, 46% from Dr Jim Swan:
“Peat smoke and caramel toffee drizzled with rich fruits.
On the nose Kilchoman begins with strong peaty aromas. While many Islay malts are either wood smoke or medicinal or many variations on the theme, Kilchoman has them all. Initial peat smoke reveals an underlying clean medicinal character but rich dark fruits and light citrus lemon and orange follow on. Finally hints of creamy caramel toffees and sultanas fight their way through this complex whisky.
In the mouth this single malt is remarkably viscous and the peat smoke has to share its flavour with dark fruits, sultanas and creamy toffee in the mid palate. Kilchoman has a long finish, eventually the peat recovers, leaving a clean lingering aftertaste long after swallowing.”
The recommended retail price is £37.00 per bottle.
Anthony Wills, the founder and managing director began the project in the summer of 2001. The company is privately owned with 30 private investors. Wills has worked in the drinks industry for 32 years, firstly in the wine trade, and since moving to Scotland in 1995 he has been involved in the sales and marketing of malt whisky.
Wills commented: “the release of our first single malt is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work and we have strived to produce top quality spirit and fill into top quality wood. The reaction to the various releases of our spirit has been very encouraging and everyone connected with Kilchoman is looking forward to sharing our malt with whisky enthusiasts around the world.”
Kilchoman Distillery will celebrate the launch of the single malt by holding a party at the distillery.
