Kilchoman 2012 6 Years Old Sauternes Finish (2018)

Only the second ever Kilchoman review on Words of Whisky! This particular one was bottled for the 25th Anniversary of Dutch importer Bresser & Timmer, and was finished in a ex-Sauternes cask. Previous Bresser & Timmer anniversary bottlings have been much to my liking.

Kilchoman 2012 6 Years Old Sauternes Finish (58.3%, OB, C#212/2012)

Nose: Proper, meaty, barbecue-esque smoke, with a good whiff of salty sea air and bacon. Some baked plums as well, and dried grass and white grape juice too. Lovely balance.
Taste: Initially a sweet arrival, but then the Kilchoman spirit goes to work. A touch of iodine combines with tar, soot and intense peat smoke. There’s some dried red fruit too balance it all out, as well as espresso notes, although the mouthfeel is somewhat tannic and dry.
Finish: Drying, smoky, spicy and long.

Score: 86

One for the peat heads, no doubt about it. I find it lacks a little balance on the palate, but otherwise this Kilchoman has some nice things to offer.

Photo: Whiskybase.com

Thijs Klaverstijn

Thijs is a spirits writer and accredited liquorist from The Netherlands. He runs the blog Words of Whisky and contributes to a number of Dutch and international publications.