Kilchoman Original Cask Strength – 59.2% ABV

Info: The Original Cask Strength release is a vatting of 35 ex-bourbon barrels filled in 2009 with 9.200 bottles filled in 2014 at 59.2% ABV.

Colour: Very light straw.

Nose: Surprisingly calm, it’s strong with an alcoholic nip of course, but there’s lashings of butter, citrus notes, fruits barley and gentle puffs of salty smoke. A dash of water would probably open this up to release more flavours.

Palate: Again, surprisingly calm and accessible, the really thick creamy oils cover your palate in warming spicy fruit smoke, it’s really quite something special, to the point where it doesn’t even need water.

Water: I wasn’t expecting this to be easily drinkable without water, but it is. However with water the nose is opened up a little more with increased salt, smokiness and some iodine. The palate becomes even smoother and creamier.

Finish: Barley cereal come forward very boldly soon backed up with fruits, sweetness, and gentle fruits.

Thoughts: It’s very special. The age works really well for it, not unencumbered by too much oak and young enough for the barley to still be nice and evident. One for real peat lovers out there.

Available: The Whisky Shop – £85, Master of Malt – £66.45, The Green Welly Stop – £64

Thanks to The Whisky Shop / The W Club for the sample as part of their Tasting Panel.