Kilchoman No.3 Small Batch Release - 49.1%

This small batch edition is a UK exclusive bottling from Kilchoman, produced from a vatting of a small group of casks comprising 70% bourbon, 5% Oloroso sherry and 25% Sauternes casks.

Tasting Notes:

Appearance: Pale gold, forms a thin line which beads before falling as slow, thin legs.

Nose: Tropical fruit, pear drops, citrus fruit and green apple against a backdrop of sweet peat smoke.

Palate: An initial blanket of sweet peat, creamy mouthfeel, stewed apple and pear, vanilla custard and a little peppery spice. A little water opens up the whisky a little, allowing more of the smoke and Sauternes cask sweetness.

Finish: Reassuringly long. Mellow smoke and honeyed fruit sweetness linger, with just a hint of pepper to keep the palate interested.

Summary: If you enjoy your peated whisky at the sweeter end of the spectrum then this is for you. Lovely mouthfeel, great balance, a smooth complexity and a long, lingering finish. This is a rather impressive whisky, and in my opinion made even better with the addition of a few drops of water.

Non-chill filtered, natural colour, bottled at 49.1% and priced at just over £50 makes this a whisky worth looking out for.

If you would like to know more about Kilchoman, the distillery and their whiskies, follow the link to the company website.

Transparency: This sample was part of a 5 dram sample set with Brand Representative, Antea Allegro, purchased from The Spirits Embassy. No goods or other incentives were exchanged, offered or requested for this independent review.