Kilchoman 2018 Sauternes Cask Matured 2024 Edition

 

 

 

50° 

Distillery : Kilchoman - Islay 

1st Fill and Refill Sauternes Barriques

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated around 50 ppm

 

 

 

This is the third edition of Sauternes Cask Matured, the others having taken place in 2016 and 2018, but several Single Cask editions have been matured or finished with Sauternes, in 2021 and 2022. Here, we have an ageing entirely made in Sauternes casks, with 22% of the liquid marinated in First Fill casks, and the rest in Refill, most of which had previously been used for the 2018 edition, which only underwent a 5-month finish in Sauternes casks. According to Kilchoman founder Anthony Wills, ‘using Sauternes casks for finishing is the ideal preparation for full maturation, the shorter finishing period extracts the most intense Sauternes influence, creating casks that develop plenty of Sauternes character without losing structure or balance.’ Many of the casks were filled in 2018, but some were filled in 2017. We don't know how many bottles went on sale, but the 2018 edition had 10,000 bottles, so here I think there are a few more.

Let's Taste It : 

Very windy, slightly herbaceous peat, chasselas grapes, greengages and banana, cooked pears, lime, île flottante, meringue, cheesecake, pistachio macaroon, it's very smooth. On the palate, it's spicy, pepper and cloves, still white grapes and banana, but this time combined with liquid honey, butterscotch, mirabelle plum liqueur, white peaches, some exotic fruits, papaya, mango, pineapple. Long, very explosive finish, delicate liquorice, woody bitterness, salt trail, ginger. Braised endives.

In Short, 

This is a very successful, well-balanced Kilchoman, in which the Sauternes comes through without being too sweet or overpowering. The peat is softened, but still full of character. It's easy to drink, but it's still big peat. The whisky lover who doesn't like peat and whom I gave a taste of this said it was 'shit'. So we're sticking to the divide, and so much the better. If Kilchoman became consensual, it would be a disaster. As for the price, it's high as with all Kilchoman, but if you look hard enough you'll find more reasonable amounts.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Clouds - If These Walls Could Speak