Kilkerran 12yo (46.0%): After seven different releases which started all the way back in 2009 Glengyle Distillery finally released their first not work in progress bottling, Kilkerran 12yo this year. The distillery started to distill in 2004 after being purchased and renovated by Springbank Distillers in 2000, designed entirely by Frank McHardy. It runs on two stills sourced from old Ben Wyvis Distillery. Kilkerran 12yo is bottled at 46% abv. and blended from 70% ex-bourbon and 30% ex-sherry casks.
Color: Yellow gold, oaked Chardonnay.
Nose: Beeswax, diner style lemon meringue pie, limoncello. Warm sea breeze... Not like the beaches of Scotland though, more like a beach at Mediterranean in summer... Charcoal... Briny and resiny. Rosemaries, seaweed, dried flowers and cookie dough.
Palate: Sweet paprika, rich tea biscuits and raw honey. Slightly metallic: Sigg water bottles, sea salt and wet sand. Catalan flan, slowly evolving soot and charcoal. Dry oak, vanilla, orange twist and marzipan.
Finish: Medium long to long with candied lemon peel and touch of black pepper. Lingers with sweet citrus marmalade notes on both sides of the tongue.
Overall: I said it here before but will say it again: If I ever owned a distillery I would like it produce a juice exactly like this... Perfect combination of subtle peat, brine, sweet fruits, vanilla and honey notes. It is an old style whisky, aged properly and is ready to be the flagship expression of its distillery. Full of potential and ready for different finishes as well as being aged longer. I will definitely have a permanent place for this bottle in my whisky cabinet. One of the best new releases of 2016...
Price: $65
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| Glengyle Distillery // June 2014 |
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