Kilchoman UK Small Batch No. 1

I acquired a bottle of Kilchoman UK Small Batch from the Whiskey Exchange a few months back, and I thought it was exclusively available in the UK until I was corrected about a week ago while visiting San Diego. Old Town Tequila (www.oldtowntequila.com) is situated, as expected, in the heart of Old Town. It happens to be in the same building as one of my preferred San Diego restaurants, El Agave. The shop is somewhat disorganized - I had to move aside random boxes of untouched inventory covered in dust to reach some of the shelves. However, the disarray was the last thing on my mind as I browsed shelves stocked with exceptional and rare bottles of tequila, mezcal, scotch, bourbon, and more. Among these finds, I spotted a bottle of the Small Batch - the US edition. I have since learned that around 1250 bottles were released in both the UK and US. Other than the UK and US labels, I perceive no distinction between them. I considered putting my review under the US Small Batch listing requested by a friend, but to maintain clarity, I created a new entry. Perhaps a single, combined Small Batch entry would be appropriate. Moving on to the whisky! This is a very enjoyable Kilchoman. It is packed with flavor, possibly due to the multiple cask types - bourbon, sherry, and madeira. It might also be due to the multiple casks that it has a denser profile than some other Kilchomans, but not excessively so. This is a very pleasant whisky that can be fully savored without deep thought. However, two characteristics are best appreciated with careful sipping. Firstly, the fruit notes range widely from mellow dark fruits to tropical fruits with a hint of lemon cream. Secondly, the peat notes are wonderful - a signature of Kilchoman, in my opinion. Here, though, the peat transitions beautifully into chocolate and caramel on the finish. So, get it if you can find it! And visit Old Town Tequila if you have the opportunity. I purchased several excellent mezcals that I hope to review shortly. However, be aware that while Old Town offers great items online, many bottles are not listed. Your best bet might be a trip to San Diego.