Kilchoman 2013 100% Islay Sherry Cask Matured 11 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

Ex-Oloroso Sherry Butts 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

The distillery is starting to release more and more 100% Islay bottlings, which is a rather good sign, they are becoming increasingly self-sufficient. Here, we have a blend of 16 casks, all ex-Oloroso sherry butts, which have been aged for at least 11 years, the distillation dates span three years, 2011, 2012 and 2013. The peat level is low, as is typical of 100% Islay whiskies. The number of bottles is not specified, but it must be over 10,000. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is not particularly powerful, but rather light and airy, orange peel, dried fruit, raisins, figs, brandied cherries, dates. Varnished wood, blackberry tart, delicate smoky notes full of soot, melting caramel, Aosta ham, leather, a whiff of sea salt and citrus. On the palate, damson plums, but also coffee, dark chocolate, dark tobacco, a few cereals, and various spices, nutmeg, clove, cinnamon. A fairly long finish, but not overly intense, candied ginger, citrus zest, charcoal, shellfish, a pinch of salt, damp wood, pine needles. 

 

In Short, 

I’ll be honest, it’s nothing to write home about. It lacks punch and, consequently, character – light peat, light sherry, a rather mild finish – and this isn’t made up for by any real complexity. It’s still a decent whisky, but I prefer the Loch Gorm, which I think is cheaper.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            The Telescopes - White Noise

Kilchoman 2015 100% Islay 15th Edition 9 yo

 

 

 

50°

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay

Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 20 ppm

 

 

 

Every year since 2011, the distillery has released this 100% Islay edition, produced entirely on the island, as its name suggests. The peat level is lower than usual, and the age is generally 9 years. Here, we have a release made with Concerto and Publican barley, harvested, processed and malted in 2014 and 2015 at Rockside Farm, and matured in 54 ex-bourbon barrels. The batch was opened in 2025 and filled a whopping 13,000 bottles. I’m surprised that the whisky was distilled in 2015, as less than five months to prepare the barley for distillation seems rather short to me.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is light, very cereal-like, a whiff of iodine, rice cake and vanilla, cut hay, toasted wheat, roasted corn. Oak bark, a fleeting hint of smoke, melted butter, dried herbs. A touch of white peaches and bananas. Mineral and salty notes, a zest of lemon. On the palate, it is creamy, bursting with fruit, mirabelle plums, vanilla, grapefruit, yellow apples. White chocolate, salted butter caramel, and of course a layer of earthy and damp peat, prominent spices, cloves, nutmeg, ginger. A fairly long finish, full of peat, crushed hazelnuts, thick honey, shortbread biscuits, reeds and pepper, cigarette ash.

 

In Short, 

It strikes me as a success, the peat is a little more subtle, yet still very much present, giving way to fruit and cereal notes. The distillate seems purer, but also less assertive. I’ve never been a big fan of this range, but I must admit it’s getting better and better crafted. The price seems very high to me, producing whisky using traditional methods is expensive. 

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            uncady - Red Line, Blue Line

The Hearach 2018 Single Cask Collection Itinéraires 6 yo

 

 

 

59°

Distillery : Isle of Harris - Islands 

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 43 ppm

 

 

 

The young Isle of Harris distillery, founded in 2015, is being showcased by La Maison du Whisky, which has decided to include it in the Collection Itinéraires, featuring cask 1908, distilled in 2018 and then matured for six years in a first-fill bourbon cask. The barley used is of the Concerto and Laureate varieties. 240 bottles are being released. Whether it is Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured and Cask Strength is not specified anywhere, but I trust La Maison du Whisky on these points. However, there is another bottling, also part of the Collection Itinéraires range, from the same cask, but with an alcohol content of just 58.6%. I believe the flavour profile is exactly the same, it is a sister cask. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

An elegant, fresh and coastal nose, iodine and dried seaweed, kelp and whelks. It is airy, with oysters and mineral notes. Sweet vanilla, perfectly balanced, enveloped in a chiselled smokiness, a zest of citrus, honey-coated grains, yellow herbs, heather. On the palate, it is lighter, a little too young, not quite ripe plums, white chocolate, banana, vanilla and slices of lime, a good layer of peat, lively spices. The finish is quite long and very intense, full of charcoal, tangy, soot and caramel, grapefruit, sage, sea spray, beach sand. 

 

In Short, 

I really liked the nose, which seems very promising to me, and the finish has a punch that’s bound to appeal. On the other hand, on the palate, it’s still too young, almost watery – a shame. This distillery certainly has huge potential, it’s one of the five young distilleries I’m particularly interested in (Ardnamurchan, Lagg, Torabhaig, Raasay and Harris), but it will need a few more years before it’s truly competitive. 

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            oktobernatt - Rasa

Arran 2015 Private Cask Collection Itinéraires 9 yo

 

 

 

60,7°

Distillery : Isle of Arran/Lochranza - Islands

Refill Sherry Hogshead

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

Also part of the Collection Itinéraires, this 9-year-old Arran has been crafted from heavily peated barley. Previously, it was the Machrie Moor brand that represented peated whisky from the island’s first distillery. But now that another distillery exists, dedicated solely to peat, Machrie Moor has disappeared, and this type of bottling is set to disappear too. This whisky was matured in a Refill Sherry Hogshead, 179 bottles are being released, and it has been selected by La Maison du Whisky for priority sale in France.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It’s fresh, bursting with citrus and caramel, yet also minty, with a robust, mineral-driven peatiness, salt crystals, a touch of limestone, quartz and iodine. Rustic grains, ginger, dark chocolate, subtle smoke, raisins. On the palate, it is robust, lemon and grapefruit, barley biscuits, gingerbread, and a good layer of peat and spices, clove, cumin, nutmeg. A very long, powerful finish, apple fritters, quince jam, almond paste, coffee grounds, shards of basalt rock, gypsum. 

 

In Short, 

I really enjoyed it, the peat is intense, dry and mineral, truly characteristic, and it gives the spirit a strong personality, lending it a lovely character. The Sherry is not at all powerful, that leaves room for the distillate to thrive in an interesting way. Unfortunately, it’s a bit too expensive for my taste. Otherwise, I might well consider buying it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                            Kelsey Lu - Dreams

Glenfarclas 2014 Single Cask Collection Itinéraires 11 yo

 

 

 

59,2°

Distillery : Glenfarclas - Speyside

1st Fill Sherry Hogshead

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Part of the Collection Itinéraires range, this Glenfarclas matured in a sherry cask in keeping with tradition will delight us with its 311 bottles, available primarily on the French market. Crafted from Laureate barley and having undergone a 106-hour fermentation, this viscous little gem looks very promising. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

Orange peel, raspberry coulis, mandarin, dried apricot, dark chocolate, walnuts and mango, with a gentle mentholated flavour, slightly chalky and camphor-like. Mixed cereals with strawberry jam, blackberry ice cream, soft caramel, macerated grapes, earthy and peppery notes. On the palate, it is creamy, continuing in the same vein, orange marmalade dusted with cocoa, candied ginger, cinnamon, sarments du Médoc, lavender honey, nutmeg, fruit jellies. The finish is quite long, lively deep, liquorice and dark chocolate, dried figs, chestnut purée, a hint of cooked mushrooms, candied kumquats, eucalyptus leaf. 

 

In Short, 

This is a sherry worthy of the distillery, intense, distinctive, with a wonderful burst of flavours, indulgent but also earthy, even with a touch of copper. You can spot this family-run distillery’s signature style a mile off. This is an experience that deserves to be explored further, but I don’t understand the exorbitant price, as it should be half the cost. 

Score : 89  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                              Two Lanes and Panama - Left Behind

Arran 2009 Private Cask Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

57,8°

Distillery : Isle of Arran/Lochranza - Islands

Ex-Sherry Hogshead 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

The Collection Itinéraires, launched by La Maison du Whisky on the occasion of Whisky Live 2025, features three Arran whiskies, including this one, which was distilled in 2009 and then matured for 15 years, eight months and two days in an ex-sherry hogshead. All this resulted in 254 bottles. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

The sherry is not overly powerful, blood orange, mandarin, salted butter caramel, vanilla and milk chocolate, mirabelle plums and Reine-Claude plums, lemon tart, dates, dried apricots, and some cereal notes, toasted wheat, barley, millet. On the palate, it is predominantly fruity, luscious, grapefruit, Comice pear, lychee, shortbread biscuits, gingerbread, peppermint, a hint of cinnamon and ginger. The finish is quite powerful, white grapes, zucchini flower fritters, pumpkin soup, puffed rice, crunchy chocolate, a sprig of thyme. 

 

In Short, 

It really is an open-style sherry, which doesn’t hide the whisky at all, on the contrary, it adds complexity by broadening its flavour profile. You can still make out the distillery’s character, albeit softened considerably by the influence of the wood. This results in a lovely, fairly complex fruitiness. That said, nothing too spectacular either, I wonder if it’s actually worth the price in the end.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Sirius - Stay with Me

Hellyers Road 2016 Ex-Libris Seize the Fire 8 yo

 

 

 

63,7°

Distillery : Hellyers Road - Australia

1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 

Independent Bottling 

By La Maison du Whisky

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Heavily Peated

 

 

 

At every Whisky Live Paris, we’re treated to a few bottlings from Hellyers Road, and they rarely disappoint. It’s true that a very special relationship has developed between La Maison du Whisky in France, which organises Whisky Live, and this distillery on the other side of the world. Here, an 8-year-old, aged in first-fill bourbon casks, with a production run of 206 bottles. The peat level isn’t specified, but I’d estimate it at around 30 ppm. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The peat is somewhat dry, sandy, coppery. The esters are nevertheless powerful, with herbaceous and citrus notes, including pulpy lemon and kumquat. Patinated vanilla, flower of salt, green olives, roasted nuts, smoky wood, cigar ash. On the palate, there is little expression, but good balance and still a certain character: smooth cereals, very ripe mirabelle plums, dried seaweed, and a few spices, clove, cumin. A powerful finish, though a little short, straw, brown sugar, exotic wood bark. Balsamic vinegar, candied ginger, coriander. 

 

In Short, 

It has a very distinctive character, it’s interesting and complex, with a recognisable identity, though not quite fully developed. One thing’s for sure, it’s a whisky unlike any other. I’d have loved to try the others in the range, particularly the 10-year-old, as I get the feeling this one needs a few more years of ageing to really come into its own. A lovely character nonetheless, the price is a bit crazy, otherwise I would certainly have considered buying it.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Lost in Kyiv - Burst

Penderyn 2010 Collection Itinéraires 15 yo

 

 

 

56,8°

Distillery : Penderyn - Wales 

Bourbon Barrel

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Cask 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Single Cask 

Totally Unpeated

 

 

 

Fifteen years is not a particularly common age for Penderyn, which opened in 2000. The second advantage is that this whisky has been matured in a single Bourbon cask, allowing the distillery’s character to fully develop. Only 102 bottles were drawn from the cask and included in the Collection Itinéraires, launched by La Maison du Whisky on the occasion of Whisky Live Paris 2025, for sale primarily in France. 

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Honey dripping from your fingers and ripe fruit, mirabelle plums, Reine-Claude plums, quince jam, Conference pears, yellow apples. Candle wax and rich floral notes, lacquered wood, creamy vanilla and a zest of lemon. On the palate, the fruit is even more pronounced, baked apples, Belle Hélène pear drizzled with chocolate, plum clafoutis, crumble sprinkled with cinnamon, black pepper. A long, explosive finish where the oak comes to the fore, liquorice, dried vanilla, fruit paste, shortbread biscuits, a warm chestnuts. 

 

In Short, 

It’s just the right age, here we have a riot of fruit, with notes of wax and elegant wood, generous honey – everything needed to make a fine whisky. The 10-year-old was still a little shy, more mineral, this one is perfectly mature. The price remains high, however, but with such a rare product, that’s hardly surprising. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

                                           Nessi Gomes - All Related