Kilkerran 8 Bourbon Cask (2023) - 55.8%

 

From the distillery

Kilkerran Single Malt is a lightly peated, double distilled whisky which is not chill filtered and has no added colouring.
Maturation Recipe - 100 % bourbon casks

Nose - The peat aroma from the lightly peated barley is apparent from the off and some of the green apples which are becoming a feature of Kilkerran are also present. This whisky is like a favourite dessert, rhubarb crumble, stewed rhubarb, vanilla and all butter shortbread.

Palate - There’s an earthiness and saltiness, exactly what you want to taste in a Campbeltown dram. This is combined with icing sugar and puff candy which gives a sweetness to the whisky, along with milk chocolate and walnut flavours.

Finish - The peat remains, along with a sootiness, pencil shavings and a liquorice-influenced maltiness.

Tasting notes: 

Appearance: Pale, white wine in colour. Forms a thin line, beads hold for a long time before falling as very slow, oily legs.

Nose: Light medicinal peat, salty sea breeze, lemongrass, tart orchard fruit, vanilla and coconut.

Palate: Soft entrance with an oily mouthfeel. Coastal salt, slightly industrial burnt rubber and oily rags, green apple, icing sugar, zesty lemon, vanilla custard, bonfire ash and peppery heat. A few drops of water softens some of the heat and produces a more creamy mouthfeel but flattens much of the flavour.

Finish: Nutty oak, mildly drying smoke and significant white pepper spice.

Summary: The typical Campbeltown elements are there, but hidden under a sea of white pepper heat. Reduction with a little water helps moderate the heat but at the expense of everything else. Overall, I’m left with a feeling of it being a little rough around the edges and one which would probably have benefited from more time in the cask. 

Originally retailing around the £55 mark, but now only available on the secondary market. Not one for me, but if you like a spirit forward bourbon cask then it may be worth a punt at the right price.

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