Five years is not much for a whisky, but for Kilchoman in 2011 it was a milestone. 2006 Vintage Release was one of the very first times the distillery dared to call its spirit a proper 5 year old whisky.
Expert's description
Kilchoman 2006 Vintage Release is an Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 5 years old and bottled at 46 %.
The whisky is built from 80% first fill and 20% refill bourbon casks, distilled in 2006, only a year after Kilchoman was founded. That makes 2006 Vintage one of the earliest examples of the distillery daring to commit to a fixed age statement — a step that required patience from a distillery otherwise living off young, energetic releases.
With its high proportion of first fill casks, the whisky carries a noticeably sweeter, more wood-driven character than many of the early seasonal releases, while Kilchoman's characteristic citrus-fresh peat smoke remains clearly present.
Tasting notes
Nose
Vanilla and sweet caramel from the first fill casks meet a fresh, almost sharp peat smoke and a hint of green apple.
Palate
Round and sweet, with honey and mature wood that slowly gives way to a growing, spiced smoke.
Finish
Medium length, dry and smoky, with a final, gentle sweetness from the bourbon casks.
Specifications
Name: Kilchoman 2006 Vintage Release Islay Single Malt Whisky
Distillery: Kilchoman
Region/Country: Islay, Scotland
Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age: 5 years
ABV: 46 %
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: 80% First Fill and 20% Refill Bourbon Casks
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Natural colour: Yes
Distillation method: Double distilled
Edition: 2006 Vintage Release
Flavour profile
Peated · Vanilla · Sweet · Young · Citrus-fresh
Investment potential
Medium to high. This is one of the very first 5 year old bottlings from Kilchoman and belongs to a now-discontinued early release series, making it a rare piece of the distillery's history.
Did you know?
When Kilchoman was founded in 2005, there was no guarantee the distillery would ever get to sell a whisky with a fixed age statement. 2006 Vintage Release was one of the early signs that the small farm distillery was here to stay.
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