Review 85&86: Kilchoman Sauternes and Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 01/16 full maturation in Sherry Hoggie

Kilchoman Sauternes

Islay - NAS - NCF - NCA- Sample ($110 at the local) - 50%

Color - Tawny

Nose - Treacle, golden raisins, stewed pears, honey, smoke - like roast cauliflower char

Taste - Apples, apricots, a touch of wood but not at all obtrusive, smoke, the sweetness does not match the nose.

Finish - Medium Long - Peat smoke, lemon zest, some sweetness and a touch of white fruit

Overall - 6 - For it's youth, this is a well balanced dram. The nose is very nice. I did expect more sweetness from a Sauternes on the finish but and a touch more sweetness on the palate would have been great. The nose was nice, the peat balanced, everything about this dram is likable. It did seem like the peat overpowered the Sauternes at the end but the finish still turned out nice, just not Sauterney. I would say spend the $10 more and get the Longrow Sauternes but I doubt that is an option any more.

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Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 01/16 full maturation in Sherry Hoggie

Islay - NAS - NCF - NCA- Sample ($130 at the local) - 58.7%

Color - Auburn

Nose - Honey, white peach, stewed figs, key limes, baking spice a touch of orange zest, touch of smoke

Taste - Lemons, honey, cinnamon, meringue, stewed figs, cloves

Finish - Long - Lemons, smoke, honey, stewed figs - This finish brings the ruckus

Overall - 6 - This is a big scotch - Big mouthfeel, big finish, big nose. It was not as sherried as I would expect for full maturation, but that is OK. I am more of a peat fan. This is also very young and that shows as well. But if you are looking for a big whisky with sherry, this might be up your alley. However, if you want a peated sherry bomb, I would pass.

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Rating system is price influenced as it is based on my shopping decisions when buying a bottle.

10 Best in Show

9 Great Dram for Special Occasions

8 Worthy of consistent spot in my collection

7 Worth picking up a bottle if in the mood

6 I would buy a bottle if it went on sale

5 I would drink it happily if offered

4 I would drink it if offered on the rocks

3 Maybe some soda will make this potable

2 I'll Pass

1 Toilet cleaner

Inclusive Ratings

Overall 6.1

Standard Deviation 0.92

Skew 0.66

Kurtosis -0.49

Islay 6.3 (32)