Kilkerran Work in Progress #7 Bourbon Wood

I rediscovered this among my samples and am finally getting to review it. A perfect evening for a Campletown whisky. Will it be a successful work in progress or a flawed experiment? Only one way to find out. The sacrifices we make for the greater good! After an initial alcohol intensity, the nose gradually reveals notes of vanilla cream soda and cherry pie. While these aromas are inviting and rich, other scents are difficult to detect. With patience, notes of candy with juice (identified as Nik-L-Lips), apples, pears, apricots, and honeysuckle become apparent. The texture is viscous and dense, and the initial taste is surprisingly sweet, like candy. Salted caramel, milk chocolate, and dark chocolate are present. It becomes slightly prickly on the palate, with fresh ginger root and wood spices accompanying it to the finish. Adding water only increases the sweetness, making it almost too sweet; its natural state offers a better-balanced dram. A slightly woody and dry finish remains, with hints of char, white pepper, and unsweetened dark chocolate. This is my second Kilkerran, the 12-year-old was fantastic. This Work in Progress is a respectable pour that I would gladly drink repeatedly. What prevents it from being a standout is its focus on sweetness without adequate supporting elements. More depth of flavor would elevate it significantly. In comparison, I find it somewhat resembles an Irish whiskey, closer to Green Spot, which makes sense given their proximity. While it may sound overly critical, it's only because this spirit has the potential to become a greater whisky, hence the 'Work In Progress' designation. Thank you to my friend for the sample from a long time ago. [88/100][Tasted: 6/24/22]

A complimentary sample from this recent batch of the SDT. This bottling from Kilkerran (Glengyle distillery) is part of their Work in Progress series, which preceded the introduction of their new 12 year old. This particular expression was matured in bourbon barrels at cask strength. It comes in at 54.1% ABV, is non chill filtered, and displays a natural dark gold hue. The aroma is quite intense, with a significant alcohol blast initially. After it calms a bit, vanilla and cherries emerge, accompanied by a hint of buttercream. I found it necessary to add a good amount of water to move beyond those initial impressions. Then, mineral notes and occasional wisps of smoke appeared. Cherry lozenges and some floral notes, such as lavender, honeysuckle, and cherry blossoms, followed. Freshly cut oak, a touch of fruitiness like apples and pears. A slightly vegetal character and a scent reminiscent of dusty/musty cardboard. The taste is dominated by heat and spice before adding water. I introduced 4mL of water to the 30mL poured, and it mellowed considerably. I detected a flavor profile in a scotch that I never anticipated, mirroring the peculiar and distinctive character of a peated whiskey from a particular distillery, which presented as mineral and earthy peat. Chalky, with a subtle smokiness. Light vanilla and cherries, or perhaps cherry cough syrup. It has a medium to full body, feels hot, and is rather oily. The finish is of medium length, with vegetal, herbal, and mild peat characteristics. This is a peculiar dram, quite unlike what I recalled from the WIP 7th release matured in sherry wood from the early days of the SDT. I can't definitively say if I enjoyed it or not. Campbeltown whiskies possess a very distinct character compared to the rest of Scotland. I'm uncertain if they suit my palate yet. I believe I'll require further tasting to form a more solid opinion. Thanks to a friend for the sample. 3.75 Slàinte

Received this Kilkerran sample from a friend. This is from the Work In Progress series, aged in ex-bourbon casks. It's bottled at 54.1% ABV. The liquid is a pale gold color and leaves numerous legs when swirled. It is non-chill filtered and has no artificial coloring. I only took a few notes as I drank this alongside the 8-year cask strength version, so this will be a brief review. The aroma offered vanilla, oak, and cherry cola, with just a subtle hint of peat in the background. The taste was similar, but with a more pronounced oak presence, as anticipated. Some vanilla notes emerged around the middle of the palate after the initial heat subsided. The finish was lengthy, spicy, and quite warming. It also had a slightly abrasive quality. I'm uncertain of the price paid for this bottle, but I wouldn't purchase it myself. I was reasonably satisfied with the sherry cask WIP range and believe their malts perform better when finished in a sweeter cask type. Awarded 3 stars. Cheers.

Life simply isn't fair. After enjoying that unexpectedly excellent Glenlossie from the standard lineup provided by a friend, I conclude round six with this final sample, also shared by a friend. So, one remarkably good pour is followed by this one, which I anticipated would be good. It's like experiencing a fantastic night with a partner and their friend, only to have a subsequent rendezvous with an ex. You shouldn't be permitted to have two such great experiences back-to-back. This pour follows that pattern. I expected it to be good. I knew what to anticipate. Caramel, dark chocolate. A touch of smoke. Earthy smoke, not briny. Yes...it's good...but that was expected. After all, it's a Kilkerran.

Fantastic! As a big admirer of this distillery, I was eager to try this bottle. The nose presented cherries upfront, not the artificial kind, along with bright, sharp ginger, subtle woody undertones, graham crackers, and some vanilla sweetness. It's not overly harsh on the palate even at full proof. A few drops enhance it, revealing a cherry/vanilla swirl taste and balance reminiscent of a specific ice cream treat. The finish is quite good, on the shorter side, earning a solid 4.25. The theme for this dram is a certain song by Air.

You don't need to bring your nose too close to the glass to detect waves of creamy vanilla. As you get nearer, subtle hints of burnt matches appear. Consumed neat, it offers rich caramel flavors that are dangerously easy to drink considering the alcohol content. Adding a teaspoon of water enhances the nose with notes of polished wood and dark chocolate. The taste becomes smoother, and the finish is long and silky. If Kilkerran 12 is ideal for warmer weather, this is its comforting winter counterpart. A work in progress that significantly surpasses many finished products.