Kilchoman Comraich

Rating: 16/23 Batch 3; bottled at 55.7% ABV. Nose: Starts sour, then smoky and herbal notes emerge. It has a grassy quality. If I didn't know better, I'd guess it was Easpadin mezcal. It's somewhat light with a faint minerality. Malt briefly appears, like a game of hide-and-seek, before earthiness and spice take over, giving a subtle jalapeno impression. Palate: More robust and sweeter than the aroma suggested. Spicy, smoky, with a hint of mint. A larger taste reveals definite herbal peatiness in the smoke. Alternatively, it might be herbaceousness in the agave, as it still strongly resembles mezcal. There's a lemony acidity and a gentle minerality. Some malty sweetness is present, but it has a slightly vegetal character, making it seem almost like agave. It's certainly sweeter than most mezcals and less drying, yet the resemblance is strong. I also detect some Laphroaig characteristics, with the herbaceousness sometimes hinting at band-aids and possessing a rough, vegetal sweetness. The peat smoke has a richness here that mezcal lacks, though it's not as prominent as in most Islay Scotch. Returning to the actual flavor, I'm a bit let down by the difficulty in discerning specific notes. It's generally herbal and lacks depth. It's not as rich as Laphroaig 10 and misses the fruit and spice from bourbon barrels. It leans into malt and peat, showing its youth without excessive sulfur. There's a slight alcohol bite, likely due to the proof. Finish: Malty sweetness, smoke, clean lemon-like minerality, a bit of herbaceousness. - Conclusion - This is good, but it's clearly young and not worth the asking price. With its youthful herbaceousness and vegetal notes, it's somewhat what I hoped Ardbeg Wee Beastie would be. However, it lacks significant personality. My current assessment would be a 15. Compared to Kilchoman Cask Strength 2016 (15/23), this has a funkier profile that delves more into vegetation and earth. It definitely tastes like it has more young peat. While the funk is unusual, I appreciate that its flaw is more about excessive character, unlike the Kilchoman Cask Strength which suffers from brute force and muted flavor. This favorably compares to the funk of Loch Lomond 12 (16/23) and approaches Amrut Peated (a low 17/23). Laphroaig 10 is richer, more mature, and distinctly better. I could potentially see myself rating this a 17, but a 16 feels more appropriate.

Batch 2. 55.3% ABV. Nose: Smoked vegetables, vanilla frosting, mint, herbs, and a cooling menthol sensation. Palate: More vegetables, earthy, sweet, with a distinct bourbon barrel oak presence upon inhaling. Spice develops over time. Lightly smoked meat. Grassy and slightly bitter. The finish is grassy and herbal, with notes of pine needles and white tea. I had a pour at a bar while waiting for someone. The wait was quite long, so I jotted down some quick notes (I don't usually have the patience for note-taking in a bar). I was eager to try a cask strength Kilchoman, but this wasn't a winner for me. It's likely the least interesting or impressive Kilchoman I've encountered. I certainly didn't dislike it, but I couldn't recommend it when a scotch-interested colleague inquired about it (he opted for the Machir Bay instead, which I could readily suggest). I would skip this particular batch, though I'm sure I would be inclined to try another batch if the opportunity arose. _______

This expression, from three first-fill bourbon barrels at 55% ABV cask strength, offers the scent of pear drops and apples. Sweetness like vanilla ice cream and lemon zest linger on the long finish. Adding water reveals buttery citrus aromas and softens the sweetness, bringing out more fruit on the palate. It's a distinctive and engaging whisky that's surprisingly easy to drink at cask strength.

This is Batch 2. The aroma is hot and smells of ethanol. I had to let it breathe to truly detect the green apple on the nose, and it still required a bit of water to mellow out the palate. Afterward, I detected caramel apple with a smoky, still slightly hot finish. I don't think this is a Kilchoman I particularly enjoyed, to be honest.

The aroma is of smoke, peat, and mesquite barbecue. The complex taste includes caramel, hickory smoke, orange peel, roasted meat, and barley. It's a bit fiery with a thick consistency and leaves a long, clean finish with hickory smoke and salinity.

A bartender highly recommended this to me here in Scotland. I appreciate the smokiness. This is the smallest distillery on Islay, so I'm preparing for tomorrow.