Kilchoman 100 % Islay 4th Edition

Kilchoman 100 % Islay 4th Edition, 4 YO, 50 %

On May 12 2014, Kilchoman released the Kilchoman 100 % Islay 4th Edition. The contents of these bottles is a combination of 32 five year old and 8 four year old first fill bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace.

The name 100 % Islay comes from the impressive fact that all parts of the production process have taken place at the distillery – from barley to bottle. The barley is grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery. It is bottled at 50 % ABV, and it is medium peated (10-15 ppm phenols), which is lower than regular with Kilchoman. They claim this will result in a lighter and fresher whisky, so we will see about that.

I see that Kilchoman 100 % Islay is available to buy both in Norway (NOK 690, item number 525801), and Sweden (SEK 900, item number 85905), but it seems it is still the 3rd Edition that is being sold. Curious that this whisky is a lot more expensive in Sweden than in Norway.

Nose (22/25): Fresh and soft. I find it to be slightly floral. There is definitely a lot of citrus here, and the peat is almost completely hidden on the nose.

Taste (21/25): The peat comes through more on the taste, but it is still a bit subdued. I find none of the thicker, meatier peat that I often find on Kilchoman whiskies here. Floral, as the nose, with vanilla and spices (white pepper and ginger).

Finish (21/25): The peat keeps to the shadows, while the citrus comes through more and more. The spiciness is more dominated by ginger now.

Balance (21/25): A smooth, easy drinking dram. Sort of a summer time Kilchoman. Once the Summer heat has given way to the colder winds of Autumn, I think I will prefer a Kilchoman with a higher peat level. But for now, this will do just fine.

Score (85/100)

Image from Kilchoman Distillery.

Sláinte! - Thomas