Kilkerran 15 Single Cask Oloroso Wood

I picked this up upon its release, so it's been open for a few months and I'm about 60% through it (haven't had a dram in at least 2, maybe 3 months). I'm hoping to provide a thorough review. Full disclosure, I'm not great at describing "funk" or peat. Nose - I detect a metallic, rusty quality that shifts to something savory, like soy sauce or a reduction sauce with wine notes. It's almost like a cooking sherry, not something you'd drink. The alcohol is quite prominent. Once I get past that, I do pick up some figs, chocolate, and perhaps a subtle hint of peppermint. Taste - The flavor is more characteristic of a traditional sherry finish than the nose suggested. This is evident from its incredibly dark color to the taste – it's a sherry bomb, but with that signature Kilkerran dirty, funky malt. There's a salty, savory, dirty bouillon cube-like element alongside chocolate, figs, raisins, and rich malts. I still get hints of what I'd consider a cooking sherry rather than a drinking one. I previously sampled the 8-year sherry, which I found unrefined to the point of being undrinkable, and frankly, I don't want to struggle that much with water to enjoy a whisky. I had similar issues with the 8-year bourbon cask as well. This is the MUCH more refined older sibling, but at 15 years, it's not quite there yet. It's attended prep school and knows table manners, but you occasionally need to remind it of the rules (not a problem I face in my life; I'm quite content with Uber Eats bringing me my food). I'd add that it comes across as spicy from the oak and alcohol, but it's not overly thick or oily. It's actually a bit thin considering the ABV and age. A completely unique and different whisky from anything else I can currently recall. Significantly more savory than sweet. This is nothing like a Springbank 15. I prefer my whiskies sweeter, especially sherry-forward ones, but I can genuinely appreciate this one. So much so that I bought a backup just in case, and considering these were going for 450 on the secondary market when I could still find them in stores, I don't want to contemplate the cost of a replacement now. I'd rate this a 3.5. It's not my usual preference but it's close. I'm unsure who this whisky is intended for; you have to be a big fan of unconventional, unique things. I know many whisky enthusiasts fall into that category, so there's likely a large market. For me, it's a wonderfully unique and different experience, but not a showstopper bottle. I think I'd place it at 88 out of 100. That's 86 for enjoyment plus 2 for the unique and interesting elements. I'm glad I have a backup, but I doubt I'll open it for a few years.

Amazing! The aroma boasts cinnamon, deep red fruits, powdered sugar, a hint of basil, signature leather, and nutmeg. The taste delivers velvety strawberries/raspberries, star anise/allspice, black pepper, sulfur, a touch of wood, yet the sherry is prominent. The lingering finish offers dark/milk chocolate and blackcurrants/cherries with subtle tobacco. It rivals the Balvenie 15 Single Barrel with ease. A superb pour! The vibe matches the song perfectly. This is Tool's "Pneuma." Man, I regret that it's a limited release.

A fantastic blend of sherry sweetness, peat, and the funky earthiness typical of Campbeltown. Interestingly, this was initially aged for 10 years in fresh sherry casks, then transferred to refill bourbon casks for an additional 5 years. Nose: Chocolate, Raisins, Raspberries, Cherries, Smoke, Peat, Plums, Dates, Figs, Bananas, Sultanas, Earthy, Pineapple, Flowers Palate: Chocolate, Peat, Pepper, Orange, Diesel, Cherry, Grilled Meats Finish: Toffee, Raisins, Dates, Salted Caramel, Burnt Pineapple

Kilkerran 8yo Oloroso single malt cask strength (abv 56.9%). I'm not fond of something about the smell, and the taste is incredibly strong. It's not bad, but... it's not to my preference.