Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength 2025 Edition

 

 

 

58,1°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

It had been three years since the last Machir Bay Cask Strength. We’d had four annual releases between 2019 and 2022, and then it stopped. To be honest, I didn’t expect to see another Machir Bay Cask Strength. That bottling hadn’t gone down very well; I wasn’t a big fan of it myself. But they brought it back last year, and I must say that curiosity got the better of me, so I tried it and then bought a bottle. It’s stated that the recipe is the same as for the original Machir Bay, but I find that in this one, there’s a bit more sherry than usual. Another detail: it’s noted on Whiskybase that it was bottled on 9 October 2025, except that I tasted it for the first time at the end of September that same year at Whisky Live Paris. I wondered if I might have tasted a Machir Bay Cask Strength from a different year, but the bottle design is new for this one, and it doesn’t look like the other Machir Bay Cask Strengths. Furthermore, the code 25/95 is laser-engraved on the base of the bottle, which means it is Batch 95 from the year 2025. Now, I noticed that another bottling, this one to be precise, was bottled on 29 September 2025, and the code on the base of the bottle is 25/97. We can therefore deduce that the actual bottling of the Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength 2025 took place around 20 September. Wait! I ALSO tasted the Kilchoman 11 Year Old Sherry Cask at Whisky Live Paris! On 29 September 2025, to be precise. And there too, the bottle design was all ready, I still have the photos. Why are they talking nonsense about the bottling dates?

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Peat with a deep, mineral, thick and maritime character. It is heavy and almost metallic, with a slight Sherry influence. Sea spray, kelp and iodine. Grainy, suffocating smoke, pulpy fruit, quinces and white grapes. Runny caramel, Liège waffles, limestone and gypsum. A medicinal touch, ether. On the palate, it is a little bit young but robust, seawater, lemon zest, vanilla flan, Comice pears, followed by powerful spices, clove, cumin, black pepper. A long, devastating finish, granitic, smoky, malty, caramelised, white currants, dry peat, sleet, various seaweeds. Very slight woody bitterness.

 

In Short, 

To be honest, it’s much better than previous vintages. There’s a bit more sherry, which masks the youthfulness of the product, and the briny, mineral character is particularly pronounced. I think the price is fair, which is why I’ve bought a bottle myself, and I urge any fan of this style to do the same, I think you’d be pleasantly surprised. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           OK Goodnight - Spiral

Springbank 100° Proof 5 yo

 

 

 

57,1° (100° Proof)

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

100% Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Core Range 

Single Malt 

Launched in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 12 ppm 

 

 

 

This is a new addition to Springbank’s Core Range, which was launched last year, and it is rare enough to be worth noting. The distillery operates entirely by hand, so it is impossible to increase production; the fact that a new expression exists is therefore surprising. But that’s all to the good, as it gives us the chance to discover new facets of its character; with a younger spirit, it will be more powerful and assertive. It is a tribute to old-fashioned whiskies, sold at 100° Proof at a time when gunpowder was used to measure a cask’s alcohol content. The whisky was aged entirely in Bourbon casks, which makes sense if you want to honour tradition. For those interested, the one I’m tasting comes from the third batch of this expression, due to go on sale in early 2026. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A briny freshness, cut hay, notes of the farm and the barn, creamy vanilla, and a hint of exotic fruit. A fairly pronounced smokiness, charcoal, damp grass, and finally a rather mineral, even chalky, character. A pinch of coarse sea salt. On the palate, it’s very bourbon-like, smooth, liquid honey, a zest of citrus, cake batter, pastry cream, then fierce spices, cumin, horseradish, clove. A lovely finish, long and not too harsh, tobacco leaf, cigarette ash, coffee grounds, cola nut, holly leaf and a drop of salted caramel. Lacquered wood.

 

In Short, 

The profile is quite similar to Springbank 10 Year Old, but it’s more robust, the peat is stronger, and the fruit notes are more pronounced. On the other hand, it is less complex, less floral and less malty. It is obviously a good Springbank – anything else would have been very surprising – and it offers good value for money. However, I still prefer the 10-year-old, and I think it is better to find more 10-year-olds than this one, if you have to choose. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             Hanry - Aurora

Kilchoman 2015 Single Cask Release Collection Itinéraires Part 1 10 yo

 

 

 

54,1°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Hogshead 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

On the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2025, Kilchoman launched two bottlings designed to be included in the Collection Itinéraires as part of a priority sale in France. The first is this one, the product of a 1st Fill Pedro Ximénez Hogshead, in which the precious liquid stayed for ten years, 1 month and ten days, which yeldied 318 bottles. The design on the label pays homage to the Sleeping Giant, a rock formation of three cliffs, on the Atlantic Coast of Islay. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is very intense and sweeps all before it, salted butter caramel, dried apricots and dates, raspberry coulis, dragon fruit, smoke rich with soot and earth, fresh truffles, a hint of exotic fruit, and a touch of citrus. On the palate, the same profile emerges, notes of blood oranges, blackberry and redcurrant jam, dark tobacco, thick, mossy and herbaceous peat, powerful spices, cloves, nutmeg, black pepper. The finish is long and full-bodied, dried banana, burnt rubber, hot tarmac, cherry clafoutis, subtle cereal notes, heather honey.

 

In Short, 

This is a typical sherry cask whisky, with a very pronounced peaty character, where the distillery’s distinctive profile is somewhat lost, but it’s very well made and intense. You have to like sherry, of course, but otherwise there’s nothing to complain about, except perhaps the price, which is a bit high for what it is.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                  To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Spurv - Som Skyer

Kilchoman 2006 Single Cask Release Collection Itinéraires Part 2 18 yo

 

 

 

48,1°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

Refill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

On the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2025, Kilchoman launched two bottlings designed to be included in the Collection Itinéraires as part of a priority sale in France. The second is this one, the product of a Refill Bourbon Barrel that held the precious liquid for 18 years, 6 months and 24 days, yielding 161 bottles. Until 2007, the distillery used peated barley sourced from Port Ellen, before growing its own barley. This release is therefore special in that it was made using barley sourced from elsewhere. The design on the label pays homage to Kilnave Chapel, a ruin located a few kilometres north of the distillery on Islay, near Loch Gruinart. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Woody and grainy peat, a hint of slightly medicinal iodine, where ether blends with the sea breeze, a mineral character with limestone and quartz, and grassy herbs. The influence of the Bourbon brings a delicate fruitiness, hazy citrus, and a few floral notes. An evanescent palate, where wisps of peat settle over grapefruit pulp, milky vanilla and coconut. It is chiselled, coastal, rocky, and the spices are also present. A very good finish, long and powerful, on sage and aniseed, egg custard, rice pudding, slate and cut hay, gravel, dried peat.

 

In Short, 

In my opinion, this is an excellent Kilchoman, one of the best. The alcohol content isn’t particularly high, and it’s perfectly integrated; the distillery’s character is intense, and the finish is perfectly balanced. It feels as though you’re on Islay on a slightly rainy spring day. The only downside is the relatively high price, which dampens the enthusiasm somewhat.

Score : 90

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           I Häxa - The Well

Kilchoman 2011 Single Cask Release Distillery Exclusive 13 yo

 

 

 

51,4°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Bourbon Cask

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm 

 

 

 

This one is a 13-year, 9-month and 11-day-old single cask, matured in a Bourbon cask, intended solely for sale at the distillery shop. It’s surprising that they thought to take a bottle back to France to let people try it, given that only those who made the trip to the distillery could buy it. But it’s a nice gesture on their part. 240 bottles have been released for sale. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Fluffy vanilla, whipped egg whites, a burst of citrus, and powerful mineral and chalky notes. The peat isn’t very strong, but it’s still very much present, sooty smoke, a sea breeze, crystalline iodine. On the palate, it is honeyed, slices of lemon and crème brûlée, a few subtle fruits, and a good layer of peat, with well-controlled spices. A long and explosive finish, shortbread biscuits, coarse sea salt, dates and raisins, bananas, almond milk. Fairly clear wisps of smoke. 

 

In Short, 

A fine Kilchoman, typically matured in Bourbon casks, with a not-too-strong peatiness, it’s dangerously appealing. This is what they should be doing more often, straightforward maturation that allows the power of the spirit to shine through, a Single Cask that reveals all its complexity, and sufficient age to give it body. The only slight drawback: the price, a bit steep for what it is. The only reason to resist buying it. Oh no, there’s another one: you have to travel 1,350 km to get your hands on a bottle! 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                             To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                             The Sugarcubes - Deus

Springbank 12 yo Cask Strength Batch 28

 

 

 

55,5°

Distillery : Springbank - Campbeltown

100% Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 12 ppm

 

 

 

This one is the second 12-year-old Cask Strength release of 2025, it was bottled in September 2025 for a release in early December, just in time for some people to have a lovely Christmas present. For the occasion, it is a 100% Bourbon Cask release, a format previously used for Batch 23 in 2021, which was very well received by consumers. Why change a winning formula? Unfortunately, it is not known how many bottles are being released.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Wax and crushed plums, young wood, freshly cut hay, candied lemon, mirabelle plums, a very light charcoal smoke. Pastry cream, grapefruit, banana, white currants. Molasses and an unlit cigar. On the palate, wheat and blond tobacco, dry straw, but it’s oily too, olive oil, English cream, vanilla extract, and violent spices, pepper, clove, cumin. Perhaps a zest of clementine. A long and explosive finish that keeps building in intensity, charcoal crumbs, milk chocolate, crushed roots, peanuts, a pinch of salt, candied apples. Trace of minerals.

 

In Short, 

Despite the similar maturation, I find it slightly different from Batch 23. It’s very citrusy, with crushed fruit notes, and quite indulgent. The distillery’s character is slightly less pronounced, but it is very pleasant to drink, with a lovely balance and plenty of fruit, cream and wax. That said, I wouldn’t rank this one amongst the best in the series, only amongst the very good ones – and they are all very good. However, it is really hard to find, and often at a disproportionate price, a victim of its own success.  

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                                  Oh Hiroshima - Meridian

Inchmurrin 1973 Gordon & MacPhail Cask Strength 37 yo c. 3380

 

 

 

44,3° 

Distillery : Loch Lomond - Highlands 

Refill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By Gordon & MacPhail 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2010 

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated 

 

 

 

Having opened in 1966, the Loch Lomond distillery was only seven years old when it distilled this whisky, but it already had the straight-necked stills used to produce Inchmurrin, one of Loch Lomond’s many brands. The result of this distillation was then aged for 37 years and 5 months in a Refill Bourbon Barrel, and when the cask was emptied, there was only enough left to make 149 bottles. It is worth noting that there is a Sister Cask, distilled and bottled on almost the same day, Cask 3381. Both were presented at Whisky Live Paris in 2010, for priority sale in France. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A full-bodied and fresh nose, slightly vinegary, balsamic, wood and warm chestnuts, damp bark, dried dates, liquorice, warm earth, cooked mushrooms, followed by evanescent vanilla, a few fruits, a hint of iodine, herbaceous notes, reeds, tall grasses. On the palate, chestnut cream, prunes, there is a lovely character, fermented blackberries, not overly strong spices, black pepper. A long, powerful, explosive and deep finish, earthy roots, cola, dried sage, peppermint leaf, aniseed, heather. 

 

In Short, 

A lot of people say that Inchmurrin is herbal, and it is, but I find it’s mainly forest-like, and I quite like that. Amidst the mushrooms and bark, you can sense the freshness of a clearing, the fruit notes are there but very subtle. There’s a character I hadn’t noticed in the few Inchmurrins I’ve tasted, and a lovely spring-like freshness. It really is an interesting and original bottling, though it’s completely impossible to find at the moment. 

Score : 89 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                              To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                               Vraell - Guitar Meditation VII

Kilchoman 2009 20th Anniversary Cask Series 15 yo

 

 

 

52,7°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm 

 

 

 

The second bottling released to celebrate the distillery’s 20th anniversary is this one, a 15-year-old whisky matured entirely in ex-Oloroso sherry butts. Five casks in total, yielding a total of 3,153 bottles. Anthony Wills, the distillery’s founder, selected 20 casks and divided them across four different expressions, each emblematic of the brand. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is very dense, with powerful, earthy, mineral peat, slightly woody, whilst the sherry notes bring out cherries, blueberries and blackcurrants. Amarena cherries, red fruit tart, assorted redcurrants, dates and raisins, cocoa powder, a hint of rancio, barbecue sauce, cinnamon, fried bacon, intense charcoal. The palate is creamy yet earthy, root-like peat, sticky chocolate and caramel, candied red berries, wood varnish, rich spices. The finish is long and violent, fruit paste, hazelnut custard, leather, damp bark, a pinch of sea salt, dried seaweed, freshly extinguished ashes. Mint leaf. 

 

In Short, 

It has to be said that the cask takes up a lot of space. This is a lovely, full-bodied and intense sherry, with a variety of flavours. It’s best suited to those who appreciate this style, but it’s very well made, with the alcohol perfectly integrated. The price is unfortunately high, but everyone is entitled to their little indulgences. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Echoberyl - Morgana