Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021

The nose starts with a mix of sugar cookies, soft wafts of peat smoke and mildly sour tropical fruits then grilled figs, seaside rocky minerality and freshly lit pipe tobacco followed by chocolate covered blueberries, raspberries and lemon zest that transitions to mild baking spices and blonde espresso with medium ethanol burn. The taste is a medium to full mouthfeel starting with creamy tropical fruits that fade to barbecued fish with mild black pepper then dark chocolate covered espresso beans, mild seaside minerality and toasted coconut followed by grilled figs, cherries jubilee and lemon zest that transitions to mild baking spices with medium ethanol burn. The finish is long, starting with smoked fish and light black pepper that fades to the background of grilled tropical fruits and figs along with a mildly spiced mocha. Overall, this is a wonderful and expertly composed dram that is a beautiful balance of sweet, smokey and slightly sour with mild spices that the palate and finish are ever so slightly more sour than I prefer but otherwise it’s a phenomenal dram that I think any Kilchoman or Islay fan would enjoy. Thanks @Richard-ModernDrinking for the generous pour and opportunity to try this Feis Ile offering.

Beautifully crisp barley notes float above a smoky canvas with a hint of struck match. Silky smooth in the mouth, with citrus fruits and a healthy buzz of peat. The finish is slightly sweet, with no bitter notes. I find Kilchomans very variable but this is one of the loveliest I’ve tried. Wish I’d bought a bottle.

Nose: Sweet pomegranate and vanilla; creamed honey. Palate: Creamy honey, orange and peat smoke; candied yams and black pepper. Finish: Long, sweet creamed honey spread. Beautifully layered peat and wood. Overall: Stellar whisky!

Very impressive