Review #398 - Kilchoman 8 Year Tequila Finish - ImpEx Cask Evolution
A single cask for the United States, selected by ImpEx Beverages, who import Kilchoman into the States. This is part of the ImpEx Cask Evolution series - we've seen a number of these finished Kilchoman releases over the past several years.
This specific example was made using 50ppm peated barley and distilled in August of 2013; it spent most of its life maturing in an ex-bourbon barrel. For the final 13 months, though, it took an unusual turn: a tequila cask finish. The total aging time was a day over 8 years, after which it was bottled at cask strength.
This is one of our first experiences with tequila cask aged whisky - how will that agave spirit impact the flavor profile of this farmy, peaty single malt?
Kilchoman 8 Year Tequila Finish - ImpEx Cask Evolution
Scotland/Islay - Single Malt
Current Locally Available Price: USD 149 (2024)
Age Statement: 8 Years
Strength: 55.7% ABV
Cask Makeup: Ex-bourbon barrel, finished for 13 months in a tequila cask
Details: Not chill filtered, no color added; cask 636/2013, distilled August 29, 2013; bottled August 30, 2021; 236 bottles
Tasting Methodology: Reviewed 3 times over 3 months; bottles at 90%, 80%, and 70% fill levels at times of review. Tasted in a Glencairn glass each time, rested 10-15 minutes
Nose: A lighter complexion with lots of strong flavors: dense mineral notes like slate, some agave, a strong sharp peat smoke... ashy. Behind that, fruits blossom: lime, almost like a margarita, and tropical yellow fruit - mango. Honey adds a sweetness, there's a soft chalky malt character, and there's a bit of fizz.
Palate: A medium-thick mouthfeel, and this is absolutely bursting with tropical fruit and citrus: sugary mangos, lemons, guava, nectarine, papaya, creamy banana... wow. The peat smoke is strong again, and some white pepper, ash, and lime combine for a tart or sharp dimension; the texture is oily, and with time, it all gets sweeter.
Finish: Ashy, lime, the salted rim of a margarita, tart lemon and nectarine - the fruits continue from the palate, quite tropical. It's a nice mix of sweet and tart flavors, and a chili heat is added in this finish; fizzy pineapple, lemon oil, and mild minerality linger in the aftertaste. The peat softens, but is present throughout; it's a medium-long finish.
Final Note: Wow, what a bottle. We weren't sure what impact the tequila finish would have on the spirit, but in this case, it brought out a huge amount of fruit in the flavor spectrum. So much sweet mango and guava - one of the most tropical whiskies we've tried in a long time. The peat is ever-present, of course, and it carries a sharper ashy character that balances the sweet fruit flavors nicely. Great mouthfeel and oily texture with the strength and lack of chill filtration; this is a heck of a bottle.
Value is alright - this is relatively expensive, but the flavors in the liquid are fantastic. This would be worth a splurge once in a while, at least in our book.
Our Average Rating: 8.5 / 10
In the current whisky landscape of increasing prices and variable quality, we've added a value rating to our reviews that relates to the score and the available pricing of each whisky. This roughly equates to a 0-10 scale; no reviews so far have exceeded a score of 10, although it is technically possible for the formula to produce a value rating higher than 10 with a high enough score and low enough price.
Value Rating: 6.41
About Us: We're a husband and wife review team living in the Midwest United States. Generally, our reviews and tasting notes will be a compilation of both of our experiences with a whisky over several tasting sessions.
