Kilchoman Sanaig

It's so satisfying when you take a chance on a bottle and are rewarded with a flavorful whisky! I truly enjoy being pleasantly surprised by a bottle like this! A few months back, I purchased a Kilchoman Machir Bay, which is a floral, peated whisky. I had heard excellent things about the Sanaig, so I bought one. What a wonderful surprise to discover a bottle offering such a different experience – a fruit-forward, peated one! I was simply amazed by the quantity of aromas and flavors! On the nose, I immediately detected plum and caramel toffee, followed by briny notes, reminiscent of beef broth with thyme. On the palate, I also found vanilla and raisin combined with leather and cigar box. However, the experience and intensity of the flavors were significant! It was an absolute triumph! This will now be a regular in my collection. A wonderful whisky! Cheers!

Natural opaque caramel color. Intense aroma on the nose. Liqueur-like with a good presence of dry, generous wine. Apricot, cashews. Caramel. Despite this, the peat is noticeable, very woody, lots of smoke. An unusual but very well-executed combination. On the palate, burnt wood. Dark chocolate. Frank but turning towards plum. The smoke hits hard at first but one quickly adjusts, leaving the spiciness of that note. Great body that is almost chewable. In the throat, very smooth. Short finish. With time, the liqueur note from the port wine becomes more prominent. Very interesting for trying something new and very well done, but too unique for a daily dram. Paired with a medium-bodied cigar, malty and floral notes like jasmine are highlighted, creating balance.

NEAT NOSE - Campfire Ash and Dried Fruits. The peat is present throughout but not overwhelming, allowing the sherry's influence to come through easily. PALATE - Initially, I don't taste any peat at all. This is best described as Dried Fruits lightly drizzled with honey, briefly placed over a campfire. FINISH - Campfire ash. After that fades, remnants of the dried fruits remain and linger. SHOULD I BUY IT? - Absolutely. SHOULD I BUY IT AGAIN? - Yes. It may be young, but it's a great product from a craft distillery that bottles its own spirit, and I appreciate supporting craft producers, especially when they take risks experimenting with casks.

A fun and enjoyable experience featuring smoked pork, cinnamon spice, wet grass, ash, bacon, nutmeg, and concluding with some burnt sugar, maple syrup, coastal salt, barnyard hay, damp earth, a touch of wet wool, and pleasant wisps of campfire smoke. This distillery consistently performs well. While this is certainly a younger spirit, perhaps 4-6 years old, it's crafted in an engaging and approachable manner. The aroma is initially farm-like, sweet, and smoky with bacon notes. It's not harsh at all for its age. The palate is viscous, carrying the flavors well. Although not a flawless spirit, it doesn't aim to be; it's designed to be bold, fun, budget-friendly, and tasty. And it succeeds.

Kilchoman Sanaig 2014 A refined Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Anthony Wills at Kilchoman Distillery in Islay, Scotland, matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks. Its aromatic profile begins with notes of fresh grapes, pineapple, dried fruit, espresso, and peat; a creamy and fresh mid-palate introduces malted barley, vanilla, stone fruit, figs, raisins, white pepper, and white chocolate; culminating in a long, smooth finish with hints of rancio, peat smoke, and sea spray. 'It evokes the sensation of eating dark chocolate-covered raisins beside a beach bonfire.' April / August / September 2019

Nose: Sweet sherry, cherry candy, barbecue ribs, oak Palate: sherry, oak, spice, smoke Conclusion: I much prefer this to the Machir Bay; this expression is great. Sweet sherry and smoke. It's not as peaty as I expected but very good. If you like peat and sherry, you'll love this bottle.