Kilchoman Sanaig Islay (700ml)
-
Size
700ml
-
Spirit Type
Scotch Learn More
Anthony Wills founded the Kilchoman Distillery after decades learning the importance of blending, wood management, and cask selection as an independent bottler. Anthony dreamed of opening a distillery that paid homage to the rich history of Scottish farm distilling and offered a counterpoint to the industrial distilleries pumping out 10 million liters a year. In 2005, that dream was realized when the Kilchoman distillery finished its inaugural batch making it the first new distillery on Islay in over 120 years.
The picturesque Kilchoman Distillery sits nestled amongst the traditional buildings of Rockside Farm on the north-west coast of Islay. Famous as Islay’s Farm Distillery, their barley fields stretch west to the shores of Machir Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Through their “barley to bottle” philosophy, this family-run project has built itself quite a following over the past 15 years.
Tasting Notes
The colour is beech wood, with a nose of soft cooked fruits with caramel and vanilla. Toffee and peat smoke, citrus and a lingering sweetness. A lovely balance of peat smoke, citrus fruit and sweetness on the finish.
Method
Kilchoman grows as much of its own barley as possible and what extra they need is provided by the Port Ellen malt house 30 minutes away. The peat is dug from local bogs and the traditional floor malting process happens on site at the distillery.
Kilchoman uses the smallest stills on Islay and these small copper pot stills impart a uniquely full and complex character to their whisky.
Kilchoman Sanaig is a vatting of of approximately 70% oloroso sherry casks and 30% Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels.
Sanaig is bottled on site at 46% ABV without chill filtration or the addition of caramel.
Richard Bendor-Samuel
Smooth with a hint of sweet and a smokiness that is well balanced and firm in its character. Good value for the price