Kilchoman has unveiled its 2020 Club Release. The ninth edition of the Islay distillery’s members-only release will be limited to just 1,200 bottles.
For the Kilchoman 2020 Club Release – Ninth Edition, the distillery dug out a series of very rare Kilchoman casks. It is a vatting of our fresh Oloroso Sherry hogsheads distilled in August 2012. The casks were filled with our 100% Islay spirit, produced from publican barley grown and malted on site, however unlike other 100% Islay expressions, these casks contained whisky distilled from unpeated Kilchoman malt.
Bottled at cask strength (56.32% ABV), the Whisky’s reduced peat smoke flavors allow for light, fruity character to shine through. Interestingly, whilst the malted barley was unpeated, remnants of previous peated spirit runs create faint hints of smoke on the nose, which complement the balance of rich fruit and citrus on the palate.
“We only filled a handful of casks with unpeated 100% Islay spirit over the past 15 years and it was always going to be fascinating how they developed differently from the usually peated malt,” said Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Master Distillery. “Although faint notes of peated spirit from the previous sprit runs can be found in the whisky, it is overridden on the palate with strong spice, bold fruits and coastal flavours.”
The Kilchoman 2020 Club Release will become available at 2pm (UK time) on Wednesday, November 18. Bottles will be priced at £99.60 ($131 USD) per 70cl bottle and will be limited to one bottle per person.
Last month, Kilchoman unveiled its Fino Sherry Matured Whisky. The limited edition Scotch aged solely in fino casks previously used by Bodega Miguel Martin in Spain, 11 fresh butts and 1 refill butt. The release is the second of the distillery’s Autumn releases and is its first global release of this cask type.