Kilchoman Distillery, Scotland     founded: 2005 | active
For more detailed mapping of the distilleries in the area from our whisky map page, use this link.

Floral, liver pate and smoke.. an unusual, but very enjoyable, combo. Lillies, Windex and 'when you oil metallic instruments' (ahem). Toffee anchovies (yes yes), Limoncello and tea tree oil. This seems to be a nose of unusual triplets. Parma Violets, childhood cuts and bruises and Parma ham. It was very medicinal (but unlike usual Islay medicine, more like homeopathic 'medicine' - ARGHH). Don't read too much into that, it smelled amazing - but a bit less 'classic Kilchoman' than the 129.1.

Salty, cloying and much like a car boat sale in an underground garage. Sand burn, a honey sweetness then orange blossom and salted fish... seaweed continues than theme, and it tends to a sour a little over time - somehow ending up (inexplicably) at Belgian salami (very specific), herbal (bay leaves), leading to rosemary potatoes and Greek potatoes... were we influenced by its farmy location?

Salted crisps (and plain old salt), leather and definitely some basil. Focaccia, calamari and mechanics' overalls.. and then a marsh with herbs in it. The finish confirms that this was herbier and more savoury than we might have expected.

~£197 (70cl)

WhiskyBase: SMWS 129.2   |   http://www.whiskybase.com/whisky/35110/kilcho

We've always scored out of 10 in our group (see number in red box, below), with scores regularly given across that spectrum. The value out of 100 below is adjusted to the scale most commonly used for whisky reviews, to allow for better comparison.

92 / 100