Kilchoman Fino Sherry Matured (2020 Edition)

Review #071 Type: single malt scotch Proof: 46% Comments: NAS, matured in ex-fino sherry butts from Bodega Miguel Martin, one of 10,500 bottles Tasted after: first up Appearance (no score): Tawny color. Swirling reveals a thin line sticking to the side of the glass, legs are slow to form. Nose: 16/20 Sweet on the nose, it reminds me of mesquite smoke and barbecue, but without any pepper or spicy aromas. It’s got sweet notes of molasses, tomatoes, plumbs, even a little salt, some mild vanilla, and mushy banana as well. Palate: 33/40 Nice oily mouthfeel, but it’s also got a strong alcohol bite. Not sweet at all in stark contrast to the nose. Smoke is the dominant flavor, reminding me of smoke off a well used and sooty charcoal grill. There’s also some other bitter flavors, like pencil shavings and rubber, which are balanced out by hints of honey and pineapple. Finish: 32/40 Medium finish. Starts off an a mildly metallic note before transitioning to something sweeter, mainly honey, then burnt honey accompanied by more smoke. As the sweetness fades it’s replaced by bitter lemon peel and oak tannins, ending on a dry note. With Water: A couple drops of water brings out some extra salinity on the palate and finish, but it’s almost overpowering. I think I prefer it without the water. Total: 81/100 Final thoughts: At the time I purchased this bottle, I was on a bit of a Kilchoman kick, I stumbled across it while on work travel and scooped it as I knew I wouldn’t have access to this back home. It’s a different experience than the other Kilchoman expressions I’ve tried as it’s got some unique industrial and metallic flavors. I’m glad I bought this and had the opportunity to give it a try, but I won’t be buying another to replace it once this bottle has been emptied. Price: $89 Would recommend: maybe Would buy: no Scoring Legend: 96-100: The perfect dram, absolutely exceptional, nectar of the gods, I will savor this bottle and make it last, 5 stars. 90-95: Near perfect, there is something truly special about this whisky, 4.75 stars. 85-89: Very good to amazing, almost the complete product, 4.5 stars. 80-84: Quite good, very enjoyable to drink, but doesn’t wow me, 4.25 stars. 75-79: Good, enjoyable but ultimately flawed, unlikely to purchase again, 4 stars. 70-74: A solid dram, but wouldn't go out of my way to get it, 3.75 stars. 55-69: Drinkable, 3.5-2.75 stars. Below 55: Suitable for cooking or direct contribution to the kitchen sink drain, 2.5 stars or less.

Whisky Tasting : The Oak Barrel, Sydney, 14 January 2021. Whisky #5 Nose: The initial impression is of a crisp, fresh coastal spirit with an aroma of olives in brine and a restrained smoky note. Further nosing reveals delicate fruit (citrus and tropical) and unusual aromas of moss, damp earth, mustard and also (bizarrely) burning electrical cables and hot metal. I can only imagine that it is the combination of the fino sherry cask and peat smoke that reminded me of soldering phenol-resin turret boards. Palate: Considerably smokier on the palate than the nose – a tarry, earthy type of peat smoke from the first moment of arrival. It’s more briny and drier than other smoky Kilchoman expressions. Tropical fruit in the development with salted lemon, bitter walnuts, mild chilli, olive oil, coffee and cocoa powder. The texture is good, but not remarkable. Finish: Medium/long. Smoky, citric, bitter and briny. The dry, astringent walnut skin character of fino sherry is most noticeable here. This whisky has a dry, austere, winey profile which makes it hard for me to review as I do not like that style. Fino sherry has never appealed to me (oh, how terribly unsophisticated I am) and I make no apologies for having a sweet-tooth. Give me a big syrupy PX sherry any day. This is very well made (well, it’s Kilchoman after all) and I’m sure it will appeal to many palates … just not mine. As far as my personal taste is concerned I’d only rate this at 74/100 but I’m giving it a high rating here because it is a highly characterful and interesting experience, just not one I would seek out. Also, I thought it was much better when taken neat. Water brings out the dry qualities to a degree where I was unable to finish my tasting glass. I would strongly recommend a trial pour of this before buying, if possible, as it is a polarising profile and at the asking price you’d want to be sure you really desired a whole bottle. “Good” : 84/100 (3.75 stars)

This is Kilchoman’s newest offering, their first fully fino sherry matured. I don’t think I’ve had many fino matured whiskeys , and I’m no sherry expert. But a quick google on fino sherry shows that it’s one of the sweeter variants, and strong tastes of almonds. I’m expecting the sweetness somewhere between oloroso and PX I guess, and I’d imagine the Islay character to match well against it. So...about 14k bottles of this. To me, that’s not “limited” despite the marketing tag. I only bought a sample though...had no interest in a full bottle. What surprised me the most immediately is the color. It’s pale yellow...so, maybe the casks weren’t as active? The nose is immediately bonfires and smoke. Taste is really well balanced—-you get the campfire but then followed by a dry-smoky sweetness. It’s not overly sweet, thankfully, but the sweetness is there, just plays second fiddle to the smoke. If you like your Islays sweeter, this may not be for you. But if you like the upfront smoke, with a bit of almond-y sweetness, this is worth the attention. I think I bottle is about $60-70. For that price, it’s worth it.

Very interesting tropical and. Tutu flavors. Nose: Raisins, Pineapples, Sultanas, Toffee, Oranges, Lemons, Bananas, Honey, Figs, Smoke, Green Chilles, Dark Chocolate, Peaches, Coffee, Apricots, Almonds, Cranberries Palate: Raisins, Smoke, Iodine, Salted Caramel, Toffee, Sultanas, Dandelions, Almonds, Oranges, Pepper, Mint, Dark Chocolate, Bacon Finish: Smoke, Pepper, Raisins, Prunes, Dark Chocolate, Salted Caramel

Nose: peaty, musty, with sweetness, strawberry vanilla bubblegum Taste: smoke, leather, caramel and shortbread cookie Finish: long, dry, woody with slight spice Tasted blind, good dram, once I knew it had a Pino finish, I picked out the mineral notes on the palate.

Sea spray and caramelized bananas on the nose opens to ceviche with bright notes of tropical fruits, hints of vinegar, and salted cod, falling into baking chocolate and citrus. Medium finish of damp burned out basement and roasted nuts.