Kilkerran Work in Progress #5 Sherry Wood

This is for the 7th Release of the WIP Series, not the 5th. It was the Sherry Wood variation, though. The distillery's professional tasters need to drink more quickly...LOL. This is my second sample from the SDT group: Kilkerran (Glengyle Distillery) Work In Progress 7th Release Sherry Wood. That's quite a name. A friend also provided this sample to me. This is 11-year-old spirit, distilled in 2004 and bottled in 2015. It's the final batch from the WIP series before the distillery introduces its standard 12-year-old whisky. The WIP ran for consecutive years and was divided into two types: Sherry Wood and Ex-Bourbon wood. I assume the regular 12-year-old will be an in-house blend of these two continuously aging cask lines, but the WIP series is definitely concluded. Therefore, this is somewhat of a collector's item. It has 46% ABV and includes added color. Thanks again for sharing it with me. The aroma is pleasantly citrusy with a very subtle hint of apple accompanying the lightly peated, sherried wood. It leans a bit towards the sweeter side, but the overall aroma is still quite light. The texture is very oily, almost like cough syrup, with more zesty citrus and sweet sherry present. A tiny bit more peat and sea salt spice it up just enough to balance the cough syrup sensation. It's pleasant and not overwhelming at all. The finish is light. Everything is light: oak spices, peat, and smoke. There's hardly any warmth, and I have to mark it down a bit for that—it should remind you that you're drinking whisky, and this one doesn't quite do that. An experienced drinker could down this straight from the bottle. #coughLeeGcough. Overall, I enjoy sherried scotch, and this one still meets my expectations. It could use some improvement, but I suppose that's why it was labeled a work in progress. Judging by the 12-year-old I've tried, they've really refined things over there in Campbeltown, so it's all good in my opinion. 3.75 stars. Cheers.

Position five on the SDT is Kilkerran from Glengyle distillery, one of three located in Campbeltown. This marks the seventh and last bottling in the "Work in Progress" series. Despite the absence of an official age statement, it is eleven years old. This particular expression was aged solely in sherry casks. Another bottling exists, matured exclusively in bourbon barrels. The current twelve-year-old release is a combination of both aging methods (I suspect either 1/3 bourbon and 2/3 sherry or vice versa). It's bottled at 46% ABV and contains added colorant, giving it an amber honey hue. Information regarding chill filtration is unavailable. Right away on the nose, I detect a significant sherry influence. It's not excessively sweet sherry, which suits my preference for sherry-matured spirits. Initially, I get notes of raisins, dates, and figs, followed by stone fruits such as plums and apricots, along with a hint of unripe apple. There's also toffee, caramel, and a syrupy sweetness. A subtle undertone of vegetal peat ties everything together. The palate is medium-bodied and not overly intricate. It features sherry-infused fruits, mild oak, and even subtler pepper. More vegetal peat is present, accompanied by a pleasant level of sweetness. While there's no overt smoke, the peat is definitely discernible. A pleasing oily texture suggests it might not be chill filtered. It's somewhat palate-stimulating initially. The finish is of medium length, predominantly dry, with notes of sherry-seasoned oak and peat gradually fading. I find this superior to my expectations, largely due to the unadvertised peat. A more pronounced peat presence would have elevated this dram significantly, but any amount is appreciated. The restrained sweetness of the sherry also contributed positively. It's a competent drink, though not exceptional. 3.75

If this is their Work In Progress, their final product must be exceptional! Oh, wait, the Kilkerran 12 is their final product, and it's quite outstanding. It features the typical Sherry and Campbeltown peat combination: initial notes of figs and fruit, followed by apple and citrus flavors, all supported by a peaty foundation. It's very well-crafted, and I'm pleased to have sampled it with my tasting group. A sample was provided by a friend; thank you!

If the WIP 5 bourbon cask tastes like a glass of spring, this one is its autumn counterpart. Stewed fruit and fig jam are the main notes on the nose. The palate is primarily driven by the cask, initially overpowering the delicate Kilkerran spirit, but sweet and sour notes emerge over time. The finish is long, creamy, and tastes of caramel. It's good, but nowhere near as complex as its bourbon sibling or the expertly crafted blend of casks found in the core 12-year-old bottling.

I'm on the fence. It's a bit sharp, somewhat disorganized, and occasionally lacks harmony, but it is certainly full-bodied and complex. The influence of the Sherry cask contributes to the variety of tastes; however, it also intensifies the spirit's potency and the wheat's presence, making them more noticeable. Acetone and tar, with a hint of cold smoke. Notes of caramel, raisins, and nuts. Reminds me of JW Black Label (haha).

The Kilkerran double bourbon was the real subject. It was creamy and delightful with a hint of peat on the finish.