Kilchoman The Netherlands Small Batch No. 1

My lone dram of the week...tasted this yesterday while watching The Hunt. Sometimes appearances can be deceiving. Like in grad school, I briefly dated a woman, let's call her B. B was a free spirit. She did what she pleased, spoke her mind, and enjoyed the casual aspect of our connection over moving forward (which, for a young grad student, was ideal). However, she repeatedly mentioned being in a Triad with "D" and "S," and asked if I minded. I couldn't fathom how someone so peace-loving and practically a hippie could be involved with a ruthless Chinese Triad mafia. Moreover, she wasn't Asian. Perhaps the Chinese mafia had broadened their recruitment criteria. But I never probed for details...she was stunning, and I was grateful for my good fortune. Weeks later, she kept urging me to meet D and S. I always declined... I had zero intention of meeting the mafia. One day, she surprised me. We were at a restaurant. She announced, "I've invited the Triad over... I know you don't want to meet them, but they're a part of me, and I need you to accept that." I was petrified. I envisioned being dismembered with swords and nunchucks. "D" and "S" entered the restaurant. Wait... they weren't Asian either. In fact, "D" looked quite overweight... they must have significantly relaxed Triad recruitment standards. Midway through the meal, with no discussion of mafia activities, I realized "Triad" could also signify a threesome in a polyamorous relationship... and I was being invited to be the fourth. And that, my companions, brings me to this dram... it's not quite a typical Kilchoman. I anticipate Kilchoman to be more intricate, refined, and layered with fruit and smoke. This one... it was dull. I detected peat on the nose, but the palate was lukewarm. This is the second Kilchoman I've disliked (the only other being the Port version). The takeaway: avoid making assumptions—it might not be what you initially expect.

Nose: A delightful, mild yet noticeable peat with fresh and savory citrus notes along with other mixed fruits. The nose isn't very complex, but it's truly enjoyable with what it offers. Simple, approachable, delicate, fruity, and sweet. Really great. Palate: Not what I anticipated given the charming nose. It's quite harsh and dry. Alongside the smoky peat, there's not much fruitiness left. I detect an interesting pine needle taste (obviously combined with the nose) and it's somewhat sweet. The finish is long and pleasant again, presenting ripe peaches. The nose is truly nice and releases some vanilla with water. I'd rate the nose 3.75. However, the palate isn't very great. The peat and smokiness are nice, but that's about the only noticeable interesting aspect for me. Not bad - just not great. That would be a 2.0. This brings me to a 2.75. While I wouldn't buy a whole bottle of this, I would gladly try other Kilchoman expressions. I think it could be nice with a few more years in good finishing casks. Do you have any recommendations from this distillery?