Kilchoman Am Bùrach (2020 Edition)

Kilchoman Am Bùrach 2020 Limited Edition was created by chance. In 2014, Machir Bay (Kilchoman's standard expression aged in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks) was accidentally combined with Port-matured Kilchoman during cask blending... leading the distillery's General Manager, Islay Heads, to describe the outcome as 'Am bùrach,' meaning 'the mess' in Gaelic. It was then aged further in ex-bourbon casks for six years and finished in Ruby Port casks for six months. Bottled at 46% ABV, with no added color and un-chill filtered, this is a unique, one-time release. Initially, upon opening the bottle and pouring a dram, I was not impressed... it seemed rough and unbalanced with unpleasant notes. I decided to let it rest, knowing that some air exposure can work wonders on whisky. Over the past few weeks, the whisky has significantly improved and offers a quite engaging experience. On the nose, there are pleasant aromas of sweet and earthy peat... red fruits like apples and plums... a touch of lemon... cereal notes and raspberries... quite fruity... and sweet! There's no alcohol burn, and the peat is not overly dominant. The palate arrives creamy and with a sweet juiciness, complemented by peaty earthiness. A slight briny note is followed by citrus fruit. Further development on the palate reveals notes of chocolate, vanilla, cinnamon, and raspberry. A hint of almonds... perhaps marzipan... The peat persists... becoming more prominent on the back palate... with a slight peppery quality... The peat is not too strong... very well balanced... delicious! The finish is quite nice... medium to long... slightly dry... and the sweet fruity notes continue... some chocolate as well. This is quite pleasant at 46% ABV, but I would be very interested to try it at cask strength! I wonder if another fortunate accident could result in such a beautiful mess. 😃

(From a virtual tasting with Good Spirits Company, Glasgow on Saturday, July 25th, 2020). Aroma: Smoked bacon and campfire dominate, with a very subtle hint of berries and cream that requires close attention. It's more of a fleeting impression. Taste: Reminiscent of crisps (?), burnt toast, caramelized apples, and inexpensive penny sweets. Finish: Port notes become prominent, retaining a peaty and slightly salty character. This is a complex spirit, revealing more layers and varied tastes as you drink it, all harmoniously integrated. The consistent peat and salt contribute to its engaging character. Adding water diminishes the experience, muting most nuances and leaving only the peat and campfire elements. Out of the six whiskies tasted, this received 25% of the vote for favorite, tying for first place, though the general feeling was that all six were very difficult to distinguish between.

Nose presents welcoming Kilchoman peat, elevating traditional Islay peat. The ruby cask influence nicely delivers deep, fresh dark red fruit aromas. Abundant berries, pineapple with a fruity barbecue sauce, ginger, and minerals are detected. Palate is very peat-forward with notes of burned matches and cold barbecue-smoked food. It's also nicely sweet with cotton candy, caramelized almonds, fresh sawdust, and a bright sourness. The finish is deliciously thick and chewy. The peat smoke is intense throughout and nicely dominates the finish. What a pleasant surprise.

Nose: Sweet with raisin notes, smoke, ripe apricot, and allspice; very well balanced. Palate: A creamy and sweet initial taste, followed by smoked ham and ginger later on. Finish: Sticky and sweet like honey, with a background smokiness that envelops the palate, a touch of bitterness, and briny notes.

Sweetness with fruit and smoke. The port cask notes are quite detectable. A delightful dram. Raisins and other dried fruits linger on the finish. It's a shame it won't be made again.

Nose: Cold, brown sugar. Palate: Cold, cherries, sugar.