Kilchoman Vintage 2007

Nose: After a few minutes, it's fairly rich with a toasty core and smoke. Bits of spice like chicken roasted with plenty of black pepper and maybe a touch of cayenne are present. There's also some slightly decaying grass, a bit of saltiness, a very slight tartness, and a light chocolate scent that hints at peat. For a moment, a burst of tangerine appeared, but it was fleeting. Palate: Less full than the nose suggested. Still, quite rich with malty and watery sweetness leading into a woody mustiness. Some sweet pear is present, and maybe that hint of tangerine from the nose is real. There's a tad of nice complexity and maturity; the wood and air have transformed it differently than another expression. A big, prickly, spicy wall of baking spices is present, tall but not thick. It lacks strong herbal or vegetal notes, though they are present, with the vegetal being more prominent. Smoke is here too, more so than in another specific bottling. There's some peat with definite iodine. The maturity and balance provide a good sense of future aging potential. However, the underlying spirit may prove a bit mild. I detect a bit of moldy cardboard as well, a flavor I haven't encountered in a while, but it works acceptably here. Finish: A layer of smoke with sweetness and faint malt and toasty flavors. It flattens out significantly, though some spice with a little earthiness and just a touch of chocolate prevent it from being completely flat. Conclusion: I enjoy this, but I feel the spirit is too mild for further aging. The entire experience starts to flatten out. Another specific bottling seems richer and more sophisticated. Perhaps this comes across as more mature, but not in a more appealing way than a spirit that seems mature due to over-oaking. It's much lighter in character than that other bottling, despite being slightly higher proof. In that regard, it reminds me of a specific rye. Would I choose this over another specific bottling? Yes. By a large margin? No. Does this surpass another specific bottling? It's less flawed, but also less interesting. This is a tougher call because even when fresh, it loses most of its character fairly quickly. What about another specific blend? I think I'd prefer that blend because it has more interesting, standout flavors. This does have some maturity, but the flavor is just too bland. It's close, though, so it gets this score.

The aroma presents peat, leather, vanilla, and a notably medicinal quality. On the palate, there are notes of orchard fruit, caramel with a salt sprinkle, and a hint of lemon. The finish is long and oaky, but with a slightly bitter aftertaste. Overall, it's a decent dram considering its young age (6 years), though it still has some rough edges.

Color: Pale yellow. Nose: Smoked meat, salty. Palate: Smoke. Earthiness. Possibly apple, like a fruit preserve. Finish: The palate flavors carry directly into the finish, where the earthiness mellows slightly, resembling a cheese-like quality.

I sampled the 2008 vintage. It's very full-flavored, with pleasant peat and smoothness, though a bit alcoholic. It would benefit from additional aging. The bourbon cask influence is noticeable.

It had a good amount of peat but was also somewhat sweet! It wasn't as peated as I anticipated, though. However, it was the smoothest whiskey I've ever had.

Certainly one of the better young spirits: strong peat and a hint of the sea.