Kilkerran 16 yo 2026

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

100% Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2026

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm 

 

 

 

After a few years, I’m back to taste the Kilkerran 16-year-old, of which a new batch has been released every year since 2020. This is therefore the 7th batch, and it is the first to be matured entirely in Oloroso sherry casks. All the other releases were dominated by bourbon, although it is true that the previous one, from 2025, already had a significant amount of sherry. So this is something new, and it’s interesting. However, we do not know how many bottles were produced.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

The sherry is initially intense and sulphurous, but gradually rounds out as it breathes. A light woody smokiness, toasted bark, roasted peanuts. Raisins, figs, a variety of red berries, particularly redcurrants and blueberries, and prunes. Quite spicy on the palate, bread cake, candied chestnuts, dried bananas, candied Reine-Claude plums, nutmeg and cloves. Thick caramel, spruce honey, a touch of charcoal. A long finish, quite powerful but not overly so, coffee and dark tobacco, dark chocolate, brownie sprinkled with walnuts. Cooked mushrooms, ferns.

 

In Short, 

Perhaps the bottle had only just been opened, which is why the sherry was a bit too strong for my taste. Overall, I thought it was good, but it suffers from the same flaw as other Kilkerran 16-year-olds I’ve tasted: a lack of character that isn’t made up for by subtlety. In two words, it’s too old to be powerful, but not yet old enough to be very complex. The sherry adds a touch of originality, but it doesn’t change the essence of the whisky. Consequently, it’s a good bottling, but nothing exceptional, and I’m not sure I’d recommend buying it. Others have enjoyed it more than I have, we’ll have to see how it develops after a few weeks of being open. 

Score : 88 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                    To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                              Sun Vessel - Sacred Nobility

Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength Bourbon Cask Matured 2025

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

Ex-Bourbon Barrels

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

 

 

Here, then, is the 12th batch of the 8-year-old Cask Strength, a series that began in 2017. Like its predecessor, it has been entirely matured in Bourbon casks, this is the sixth batch to follow this maturation process, with five batches having been matured in Sherry casks and one in Port casks. Bottled in December 2025, it went on sale around the end of February or beginning of March this year.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

It is both creamy and full-bodied, with a touch of citrus, lemon zest and grapefruit, a pinch of iodine and limestone, white grapes and mirabelle plums, barley sugar, freshly cut young wood, onctuous vanilla, toffee. Rustic cereals, runny honey, bergamot. On the palate, it is particularly successful, very oily and honeyed, rose water, almonds, lychees, black pepper, cloves. A long, very pleasant finish, a hint of peat, dry earth, gypsum, a few drops of tar, fermented white fruits, nuts. 

 

In Short, 

I found the nose a bit conventional, even a little shy, it’s pure Kilkerran, with little originality, apart from that unusual herbaceous note. On the palate, however, it’s excellent, and the finish is also very good. Overall, it’s almost as good as the previous batch, which I thought was one of the best, and the price has become quite affordable, so I’m wondering whether I might give in to the temptation to buy a bottle. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                               To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                               Weather Systems - Synaesthesia

Kilkerran 2011 Cadenhead's Original Collection 13 yo

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

Bourbon Barrels and Ruby Port Casks

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

 

 

Independent bottlings from the Glengyle distillery are rare, and in fact this one is not, since Cadenhead and the distillery share the same owner, the Mitchell family. It is therefore a necessarily remarkable product, which is why it was decided to release it at Cadenhead rather than directly as an Original Bottling. The combination of Bourbon and Port casks ensures the research of an interesting balance.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It :  

The Port influence is both intense and measured. The fruit is very present, with plums, blackberry jam, blackcurrants and black grapes, as well as an exotic touch of passion fruit. At the same time, the distillery's character is present, with light peat adding depth, charcoal and mineral notes of dry hay and a pinch of coarse salt. On the palate, it's more unequivocal, the fruit is stronger, on cherry, redcurrant, pomegranate, some grainy cereals accompanied by a little dirtiness. The finish is long, dark and almost explosive, caramel and dark chocolate, a few more red plums, fir honey, earthy roots.

 

In Short, 

That's certainly something to remember. The Port is very intense, much to my delight, as I like Port cask ageing, but it doesn't take away too much of the distillery's markers. So it's a great success, except for the palate, which I found a little smooth, but good nonetheless. I would have considered buying it, but it's definitely too expensive, especially at this discount.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           The Comet is Coming - Blood of the Past

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Small Batch Batch N°12

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

90% Bourbon and 10% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2025

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 45 ppm

 

 

 

It's always a pleasure to see a new Batch of Kilkerran Heavily Peated, which comes out twice a year. Nobody realised that the peat content was almost halved in the previous Batch, and that didn't detract from the quality of the product. So we're sticking with 45 ppm for this one, though the maturation remains the same, with a large majority of Bourbon casks, and a tiny remnant of Sherry to give it a little roundness.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Sponge cake, vanilla, honey and semi-salted butter, brioche, all served with a few exotic fruits. Peaches, juicy pears, dates. Cake batter, a zest of lemon, and all with mineral notes, limestone, quartz, chalk, and of course a slight costal character. On the palate, it's very well balanced, with a slight woodiness drifting towards grapefruit, vergeoise, marshmallow, a hint of pineapple, papaya, and more minerality. Intense spices, nutmeg, black pepper, chilli. The finish is long and almost explosive, with a good layer of herbal peat, damp wood, volcanic rock, cola, dark chocolate chips and a touch of white fruit.

In Short, 

I have the impression that this one is even better than the previous ones. There's a superb balance, a lovely sweetness that goes very well with the peat. Of course, I'd have to taste it again, but I feel that the quality of the very good early Batches has been restored. That's very encouraging. What's more, the price still hasn't gone up, in fact it seems to have come down a little. Now's the time to buy.

Score : 89

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Messa - Pilgrim

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Small Batch Batch N°11

 

 

 

57,9°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

90% Ex-Bourbon and 10% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 45 ppm  

 

 

 

Batch 12 was launched last month, and I realise that I haven't yet tasted Batch 11, of which I have not one, but two samples at my disposal. Since Batch 7, the maturation has been the same. On the other hand, peat levels appear to have fallen sharply, with the distillery now reporting a content of 45 ppm. This is surprising, but that doesn't mean we will notice the difference. Beyond a certain point, the nose is no longer able to assess the peat, anyway.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Quite dry smoke, tall grass, fire in the meadow. The peat is thick, notes of cowshed, earthy hay, animal sweat, then a delicate hint of candy cane, sweet almonds, fresh cream. Perhaps a drop of honey. Vanilla butter, citrus zest, grapefruit and lime. On the palate, the markers of Bourbon regain some of their strength, with a trace of limestone, malty touches, vanilla, white grapes and mirabelle plums, but very quickly quite strong spices, and a rather long, almost explosive finish, more cereal-like, slightly woody, a tiny taste of bitterness, cola, black radish.

 

In Short, 

I've read here and there that the profile is more or less the same as Batch 10, but I don't think so. I'd even say that each Batch has its own identity, and this one is more vegetable, even herbal. Whereas Batch 10 was more resinous and almondy, and Batch 9 more fruity and buttery. So this one is more rustic, perhaps a little more austere than the previous ones, and I like that. The last two Batches were more pleasant, more approachable, but this one is a return to Batch 8, which I thought was rather violent, but a bit monochrome, whereas this one combines violence with a bit of complexity. So, in my humble opinion, this is one of the best Heavily Peated releases of recent years, probably the best. The price hasn't changed, and there are even a few promotions around, so I'd advise you to have a look.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping : 

 

                                           Mangrove - Fall

Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength Bourbon Cask Matured 2024

 

 

 

55,6°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown 

Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

 

 

Bottled in November 2024, but launched in February 2025, this is the 11th Batch of this 8 yo Cask Strength, the first of which was released in April 2017. In 2017, 2022 and 2023, we were treated to 2 Batches in the same year, but now it seems that's over, we're down to one a year, which is better for our purses. This one is the 5th to be aged in Bourbon casks, there are also 5 batches aged in Sherry casks, and one in Port casks. So the series is very well balanced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

A pinch of icing sugar, a cloud of vanilla, brioche, marzipan, a drop of caramel, lemon zest, light mineral notes, crystalline limestone, slate, quartz. Mirabelles and white grapes in the background. Crushed banana and a few pieces of papaya. Rough pineapple, with its rind. Cedar wood. On the palate, it's milky, fairly sweet, treacle, soft caramel, olive oil, acacia honey, hot chestnuts, and very quickly some peppery spices. Long, powerful finish, caramel and wood, sea salt, liquorice stick, forest berries. Very discreet hint of bitterness.

 

In Short, 

The nose is extremely good, and this is probably the best 8yo Cask Strength aged in Bourbon casks. So I'm very happy to own a bottle, especially as it didn't cost me much at all, thanks to a friend. It's getting harder and harder to get hold of these things, especially in France where apparently it hasn't even been released yet, but you have to try, because this is really the pinnacle of what can be offered in Single Malt, at this age and at this price.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Margaret Glaspy - Fruits of my Labour

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Small Batch Batch N°10

 

 

 

57,8°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

90% Bourbon and 10% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

Like every 6 months, the new Kilkerran Heavily Peated comes out, it's become a routine now. The maturation and peat content are the same as on the previous Batch, so there shouldn't be much change to the profile. We still don't know how many bottles are being produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Resiny peat, wood wax and peanut butter on toasted bread. Some fruits, quince and mirabelle plum, but light. A trail of iodine, salt and honey, hints of vanilla with the sea breeze. Airy cereals, wheat grains and barley. Almond with its pod. Soft and silky on the palate, candied lemon and mother-of-pearl, followed by spices, quite strong, cumin, pepper and cloves. Egg white. Long, fairly explosive finish, limestone, lychee, white fruits, grapes and pears, agave.

 

In Short, 

It's not the best in the range. Very similar to Batch no. 9, but just a little lighter in the mouth. If possible, I'd advise you to buy another Batch instead, but it is still attractive value for money.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                            To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Psychlona - Let's Go

Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength Sherry Cask Matured 2024

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

Oloroso Sherry Cask 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2024

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

This is already the 10th Batch of this annual limited edition, which has sometimes been biennial, launched in 2017. It is aged in Oloroso Sherry casks, and is the 5th to have undergone this maturation, there are 4 aged in Bourbon casks, and 1 aged in Port casks. We don't know how many bottles were produced, but certainly more than 10,000.

Let's Taste It : 

Very gourmand sherry, vergeoise, genoise, brown sugar, caramel éclair, and behind, beautiful dry smoke, hay is burnt, with vanilla and a touch of iodine. Shortbread biscuits, but with the air of the sea, as if soaked in foam. A zest of lemon adds freshness. Breton cake with orange blossom. On the palate, it's a little watery at first, then becomes denser, dry vanilla, high herbs, and the spices rise, white pepper, liquid honey, peanut butter, and finally a long, barely explosive finish, hazelnut cream, buttered corn, sweet almonds.

 

In Short, 

Absolutely marvellous, the distillery has really taken things up a notch with this Batch, with its bold, perfectly balanced profile. Only the palate is a little off, slightly watery at first. It's a shame, because otherwise this would be a truly exceptional bottling, especially at this price, which is still relatively reasonable, given that this bottle is highly sought-after. Every year, it becomes a little harder to find.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Fairport Convention with Sandy Denny - Who Knows Where the Time Goes?

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Small Batch Batch N°9

 

 

 

59,2°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown 

90% Bourbon, 10% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

Kilkerran's 9th Batch of Heavily Peated is the most peaty malt from Campbeltown to my knowledge. At 84 ppm peat, only Octomore and some Ardbeg bottlings can rival it. This 9th Batch differs from the previous 8 in that it is no longer marked Peat in Progress on the label, but Small Batch. Does this mean that the production process has changed slightly, to include smaller casks? The fact remains that this spirit is aged almost exclusively in Bourbon casks, and the number of bottles produced is unknown.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Thick smokiness, a peanut butter slice. It's mineral and chalky, with a bit of vergeoise. The peat gives a nice fullness. After a while, it opens up and becomes caramelised and vanilla-flavoured. It's also slightly muddy, even boggy. Almond glaze. Calissons of Aix. Margarine. The palate is clear, with a good layer of ash, a hint of iodine, spices in force, nutmeg, pepper and cloves, but behind, some white grapes, banana, pineapple. The finish is long and violent, with lychee, pear and waffle with whipped cream.

 

In Short, 

It's a nice product, the peanut butter notes are original. That said, it's far from being the best Heavily Peated. Nevertheless, it's already better than the previous Batch. The price is really interesting, so don't hesitate to buy it if you're a fan of the profile.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Joanne Shaw Taylor - Heavy Soul

Enigma 2008 Campbelton Blended Malt 15 yo

 

 

 

48,2°

Distillery : Springbank, Glengyle - Campbeltown

Bourbon Hogsheads

Independent Bottling 

By William Cadenhead Limited 

Limited Edition 

Blended Malt

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Slightly Peated

 

 

 

The origin of this Blended Malt is not really an enigma, it's 15 year-old Hazelburn and 16 year-old Kilkerran, all matured in Bourbon Hogsheads, it gave exactly 3306 bottles, and Whiskybase says it's cask strength, which is surprising, because the amount of alcohol is a bit low. Under the name of Enigma, Cadenhead intends to build a series of whiskies that are 'unusual, hard to quantify, perhaps even slightly contradictory', as it says on the bottle.  

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It is silky, soft and well-balanced, with vanilla and yellow plums, a drop of honey. Some iodine and maritime hints, but discreet. Slightly spicy and bushy. But nothing particularly remarkable. On the palate, it's herbaceous, a bit light, though well-made, very smooth, flawless but with no real character, it's crystalline, on yellow apples and a few other orchard fruits. Austere spices. A dash of caramel. The finish, on the other hand, is fine and strong, playing muscles for quite a long time, with earth, chestnuts, humus, cloves and cardamom. A leaf of eucalyptus.

 

In Short, 

I always have a bit of trouble with blends, as I find that they often lose the character of the distilleries used. And that's what seems to be happening here. The nose is fine, but there's nothing really special about it, and the palate lacks thickness, it doesn't make you want to drink it. Fortunately, the strong finish makes up for it a little, but it won't be enough for me.

Score : 86

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Enigma - Return to Innocence

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°8

 

 

 

58,4°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown 

90% Bourbon and 10% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

At the rate of two Batches a year, this Heavily Peated is conquering the sales sites, and then filling our shelves. This latest batch is still without age, but without cold filtration either, and without colouring. The number of bottles produced is not specified.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

On the nose, the alcohol comes through quite strongly, with a hint of squeezed lemon, and a roaring chalky peat. Iodine too. Earthy, cereal-like overtones. Icing sugar. On the palate, it's surprisingly soft, even light after the violent nose. Pear and almonds, steamed wheat. But that's without counting the spices, which turn everything upside down, they are quite devastating. The finish is in the same vein, strong and long, charred, cola, lime and green apple. It's like swallowing smoke.

 

In Short, 

Compared to the previous Batches I've tasted, this is a disappointment. It's quite monochrome and very alcohol-laden. Two Batches a year seems like a lot. They'd be better off releasing just one and taking care of it. It's still good though, and I'd still recommend buying it, but they're going to have to do better.

Score : 87

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                            Gnome - Ambrosius

Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength Sherry Cask Matured 2023

 

 

 

57,5°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2023

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

 

 

This is currently the latest Batch of the 8 yo Cask Strength, a series launched in 2017. Like Batches 4, 5 and 6, it has been aged entirely in Sherry casks. Bottled on 24 January 2023, it went on sale the following month in an unknown number of bottles.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Rather dry Sherry nose, with red fruits, plums, prunes, bilberries, but also mushrooms, heather, forest undergrowth. Molasses, chestnut purée, dried banana. Leather and tree bark. Apricot compote and blood orange zest, with cinnamon and caramel. On the palate, the red fruits are more intense, with raspberry and blackcurrant. The spices are deep and varied, paprika, cardamom, nutmeg and cumin. The finish is terrific, like Batch 8, a dishevelled rodeo, long and overpowering, with charcoal, black earth, soot and cherries.

In Short, 

The critics were not very kind to this bottling, preferring the Batch 8, aged in Bourbon casks. OK, but I prefer Sherry, so I preferred this one. It's not as successful as Batch 4, which was really crazy, but it's original, with its forest hints, and very fruity. I don't think it's Glengyle's best Sherry, but I'd still recommend buying it, I really liked it.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Keziah Jones - Rythm is Love

Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength Bourbon Cask Matured 2023

 

 

 

55,8°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown 

Ex-Bourbon Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

 

 

Every year since 2017, we've been treated to a bottling of 8 yo Cask Strength from those gentlemen from Glengyle. And since 2022 there have even been two a year, released at the same time. That's why this batch was released in February 2023, even though it had been bottled on 28 November 2022. It was quietly waiting for its buddy. The first 3 batches of 8 yo Cask Strength were aged in Bourbon casks, then, from Batch 4, in 2019, they switched to Sherry casks. Batch 8 is back to its roots, also aged in Bourbon casks, the first in 5 years. The number of bottles produced is unknown.

 

 

 

 

  

Let's Taste It : 

The nose is obviously quite bourbon, with vanilla, lemon, white fruits and honey, but it is also very mineral, with pencil lead, a hint of charcoal, a pinch of salt, and rock, quartz and slate. It's original. On the palate, nothing special, the fruits and vanilla live their lives, it's creamy, oily, honeyed, with just the right amount of spices, it's well done. The finish is really crazy, very long, caracoling like a runaway horse and taking us far away. Almonds, peanuts, a bit more salt. Chestnut powder.

 

In Short,

After a second tasting, I realise that I quite like it, the nose is very fruity and the mineral notes are discreet actually. It's original and well-made, smooth and robust in the same time. It's a pleasure to drink, and fans of the distillery will be pleased. The price can be a bit high, given the success of the brand.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Wet Leg - Chaise Longue

Kilkerran 16 yo 2022

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

70% Ex-Bourbon and 30% Ex-Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

 

 

Every year now, we are entitled to an edition of the 16 Year Old. This one is the third, with slightly more Sherry casks. 7,000 bottles have been released.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Warm and mellow brioche, vanilla yoghurt, very light peat, spices. Cinnamon, baked apple, candied lemon, with a trail of hay, dry earth. Mountain honey, quite solid. Very soft minerality, silica, quartz. On the palate, it's mellower, fruitier, juicy white plums, banana, some discreet exotic fruits, guava, sand and salt, white pepper. The finish is long and beautiful, very successful, very fine charcoal, with warm chestnuts and a few peanuts. Loose cereals.

 

In Short, 

Even with 30% of the casks, the Sherry remains hardly remarkable. The nose and finish are really pleasant though, but I found the palate a little below par. Like the previous year's, it's good, but you'd expect better from a 16-year-old. The price is a tad high.

Score : 88

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sikvert Hoyern - Majesty

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°6

 

 

 

57,4°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

75% Bourbon and 25% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2022

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

While we wait for Batch 7, which should arrive at the end of the month, we can quench our thirst with this one, released in June. For three years now, this distillery has been offering us two batches a year of this Heavily Peated, much to our delight. The proportions of Sherry and Bourbon vary a little each time, it's cask strength, and the peat content is reasonable. The age should be around 5 to 6 years, although this is not mentioned. However, I have no idea how many bottles were produced.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

It's more Bourbon, with iodine and vanilla, whipped cream and an airy lemon zest. The smoke seems relatively light. Small delicacies, genoise, marzipan, filled fig. A bit fatty. The palate is again focused on vanilla, quite thick and oily, mellow, liquid honey, lemonade, hazelnuts, pleasant spices, white pepper, cloves, cumin. A hint of grimy charcoal in the background. Long, interesting finish, cola, heather, young wood. A square of dark chocolate. Coffee.

 

In Short, 

I found this one to be more greedy, more vanilla-based, although the Sherry content is higher, you don't smell it much. It's less balanced, less varied, with less peat and almost no iodine. So it's very good, but less surprising, less original. For this reason, I'm lowering my score a little, but it's still a very good product, which you shouldn't hesitate to buy if you're an enthusiast, especially as the price is still right.

Score : 88  

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Gary Clark Jr. - When My Train Pulls in

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°5

 

 

 

57,7°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

85% Bourbon and 15% Sherry Casks

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

Released at the very end of 2021, Batch 5 of the Heavily Peated range differs very little from its predecessors. One ounce less sherry casks, almost the same amount of peat, and still no chill filtration or colouring. It is said to be 5 to 6 years old. We do not know how many bottles have been released.

 

Let's Taste It : 

Still a sweet nose despite the smoke. Vergeoise, pastry cream, cannelé, frangipane, meringue. Then marine elements, lobster with mayonnaise, prawn crakers. Intense iodine. Scallops. A hint of hay in the background. The palate is even more pastry-like, with genoise, macaroons and creamy, ashy vanilla. The peat gives a nice thickness. Very long finish, cola, dry earth, crazy intensity. Milk chocolate, traces of charcoal. Fine sand. Almond paste.

 

In Short, 

Another great success, where the smoke is only there to bring out other sweet, marine and farmhouse flavours. It's very varied and complex. I preferred Batch 3, but it's not far off. The price is right, so if you can, jump on it.

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Sonic Youth - The Sprawl

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°3

 

 

 

59,7°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

80% Bourbon Casks and 20% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2020

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated around 84 ppm

 

 

 

Since 2019, the distillery has been gracing us with a heavily peated edition at the rate of two Batches per year. We are currently on Batch 6. The 3rd Batch, which we have here, was bottled a year after the first, and the proportion of Sherry and Bourbon casks has been altered slightly. We don't know how many bottles are on sale, but rumour has it that the age is around 5 years.

 

 

 

Let's Taste It : 

Tensed, well-balanced nose of peat and icing sugar. It's sweet, with fine farmhouse peat and a beautiful river of vanilla. Genoise, powdered chocolate, thick fatty earth, iodine, crème brûlée, stuffed fig. A fresh mint leaf. Creamy, oily, mellow, spicy, slightly woody palate. Greek yoghurt, melted cheese, whipped cream, milk chocolate mousse, cod brandade. As if melting. Very long, intense, explosive finish that takes you on a tour. Cola, dry earth, heather, apple crumble. A touch of white gooseberry.

 

In Short, 

What a dazzling experience! I had tasted Batch 1 and found it rather average, immature and lacking in complexity. A year later, it's perfect. A monster of balance between sweetness and the violence of peat. In a completely different style, it's on a par with Corryvreckan. They've clearly invented a new classic in peated whisky. Run out and buy one. 

Score : 89

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Killing Joke - The Great Cull

Kilkerran 16 yo 2021

 

 

 

46°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

75% Bourbon and 25% Sherry Casks 

Original Bottling 

Limited Edition 

Single Malt 

Bottled in 2021

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured 

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm 

In 2020 the Glengyle distillery celebrated its 16th anniversary. On this occasion, they released a 16 year old. Success was there, and so the idea came to release one every year. This Batch is the second one, and it is different from the very first, which had a little touch of Marsala, while this one is mainly under Bourbon influence. The number of bottles produced is not known.

Let's Taste It : 

It's creamy. On the pastry cream, vanilla, Greek yoghurt, with a sea breeze, a shovelful of hay and a whiff of peat. After a while, I catch a glimpse of white fruits, plums, Chasselas grapes and green apples. Very sweet. Mountain honey, slight lemon acidity, grapefruit and lychee. In the background, far behind, a hint of fuel oil. On the palate, it's light, more lemony, with a hint of honeyed gooseberry, fiery spices , cumin, cloves, nutmeg, and a young, vigorous, barely bitter woodiness, sprinkled with earth and a few plants. The finish is very long, charcoaled, still bitter, with sparkling citrus fruit and a fresh finish.

 

In Short, 

To be honest, it's a bit of a disappointment for me. The nose lacks character for my taste, the rest is on the level of a good 16 year old. The whole is dominated by lemon, one of the things I'm not a fan of in whisky. Then there's a little bitterness on the palate. It's still a fine product, very elaborate, and that's reflected in my score. However, I don't know if I'm going to experiment any further with this expression.

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

 

                                           Lindsay Ell - Shut me Up

Kilkerran Heavily Peated Peat in Progress Batch N°1

59,3°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

Bourbon and Sherry Casks

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength 

Peated around 84 ppm

The distillery is trying out this heavily peated bottling in 2019, which is currently being followed by two other batches of the same kind.

Let's Taste It : 

At first, the nose is very similar to that of Kilkerran 12 year old. Vanilla, country flavours, cowshed, with barley sugar, but in a rougher, less refined way. Rustic. Then the peat rises, quite heavy. Imposing. No smoke or iodine, just peat. It enhances the vanilla, with a herbaceous, earthy touch. A good match. On the palate, olive oil, vanilla, then the pepper rises, it's strong. It's fairly flat, but the finish is nice, an ounce of caramelised coal, peat and earth, melting salted butter.

 

In Short, 

It's astonishing, and will delight fans of the genre. Having said that, the whisky is very young and not very complex, so it would be better to wait for a bottling in the same style but older, which will be more worthwhile. 

Score : 86

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

                                           Kiss - I Was Made For Loving You

Kilkerran 8 yo Cask Strength 2019

57,1°

Distillery : Glengyle - Campbeltown

Recharred Oloroso Sherry Casks

Original Bottling

Limited Edition

Single Malt

Bottled in 2019

Unchillfiltered, Uncoloured, Cask Strength

Peated from 12 to 15 ppm

 

The distillery regularly produces bottlings of 8-year-old cask strength. The special feature of this one is that it has been aged in toasted sherry casks, which means it has been burnt with a blowtorch. 15,000 bottles were sold.

Let's Taste It : 

Wood and smoked bacon, chimney fire, dried fruits: apricots, dates, figs, raisins. Rare cooked beef. Some red fruits, mainly strawberry. Fat, thick and tasty sherry. Agen prunes. The typical Kilkerran farmhouse character is barely perceptible. Some cereals though, puffed rice and barley. Meat juice. Very fleshy on the palate, still with dried fruits, but also juicy, rare and candied. The spices are rising, but not too much. Quite ripe red plum. An ounce of coarse salt. Slightly dry finish, wood and liquorice, heather earth, crunchy grapes, charcoal, pear, cherry.

 

In Short, 

A truly excellent edition, very fruity and rare. Don't hesitate to buy it, as long as you can find it at a reasonable price, because it's a victim of its own success. 

Score : 88

                                           To Be Listened While Sipping :

  

                                           Jethro Tull - Locomotive Breath