Kilchoman Sanaig (2016 Edition)

ES / EN. A very personal interpretation of an Islay malt: it retains the smoky and untamed character while introducing intriguingly sweet and creamy elements. The nose begins with a sweet yet wild smokiness, accompanied by a hint of saltiness and fudge. The palate starts with a fleeting spiciness, leaving the region's characteristic smoky essence on the back of the tongue. A rich, somewhat creamy flavor persists, with salty and woody undertones. The finish is smooth on the throat but assertive on the palate, with spiciness and smokiness returning after notes of sweetness and vanilla.

Nose: Smoky, briny, with a faint trace of smokiness. Taste: Significant smokiness transitions into sweetness. Finish: Quite smooth, somewhat fruity, and predominantly sweet, leaving a nearly sugary sensation. The sweetness and sugary quality diminished in intensity as the bottle progressed beyond the initial third. Score: 4.0. A very intriguing spirit; the combination of smoke, peat, and sweetness is surprisingly effective. Scoring Guide 5.0 - Exceptional, unlike any other. 4.5 - Excellent, a staple bottle. 4.0 - Very good, enjoyable to drink, a reliable option. 3.5 - Good, worth trying again. 3.0 - Average. 2.5 - Acceptable, still drinkable. 2.0 - Inferior, drinkable but not pleasurable. 1.5 and below—avoid unless absolutely necessary.

The nose begins with sweet cereal and candied fruit, followed by some darker earthy and leathery notes after it settles. There's a smoke reminiscent of the inside of a cold grill. The palate offers river stone, iodine, smoke, and sweet dried fruit. It evolves slowly, with those flavors intertwining. A very enjoyable dram. The finish is smoky and sweet, persisting into a long smoky conclusion. Adding some water reveals dark cocoa on the nose, and the palate becomes a bit darker, introducing deep dark chocolate and coffee flavors that linger well into the finish.

Lives up to this distillery's esteemed reputation. It tastes exactly as it smells: a fusion of sherry, raisins, tropical fruits, and smoke. A pleasant length! The smoke is masterfully balanced, complementing rather than overpowering the other aromas. I tried Machir Bay when I was new to scotch and didn't enjoy it. I'd be interested to revisit this one and explore the rest of the Kilchoman range. Opened bottle in January 2021.

This was my first experience with any Kilchoman product, as it was part of an Islay Sherry Cask blind tasting. I found it enjoyable and it certainly made me curious to explore more from this distillery. It had a very pleasing equilibrium of sea air and mild peat, with a full palate and a satisfying medium-length finish. Interestingly, in the blind tasting, it outperformed Lagavulin, which was the original scotch that ignited my lifelong passion for Islay and peat.

It has a caramel hue, more so than some others. The peat on the nose is more mellow, with hints of vanilla or toffee. The taste features a very noticeable smoke flavor alongside some malted barley. The sweetness balances it, still carrying vanilla or toffee undertones. The finish is pleasant and balanced with a touch of pepper or spice.