Kingsbarns Single Cask Release 2016
70cl / 62%
£79.00
- Cask type: Bourbon
- Malt type: Single Malt
- Region: Scotland
- Chilfiltered: No
- Coloring: No
Tasting Notes
Pomace, Apple, Banana, Coconut
Banana, Apple, Almonds
Long Finish, Banana
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A highly limited, inaugural single cask release from the Lowland Kingsbarns distillery, bottled at cask strength at three years old.
At-a-Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Distillery / Bottler / Country & Region | Kingsbarns Distillery (Official Bottling) / Scotland (Lowland Single Malt) |
| Category | Single Malt Scotch Whisky (Single Cask, Cask Strength) |
| Age / Vintage / Bottled | 3 Years Old / Distilled September 2016 / Bottled 2019 |
| ABV & Size(s) | Varies by cask (e.g. 61.8%, 62.0%, 61.6%) / 70cl |
| Cask / Treatment | Single American Oak Bourbon Barrel (e.g. Casks #1610870, #1610871, #1610872) |
| Natural Colour | Yes |
| Non-Chill-Filtered | Yes (unchillfiltered) |
| Cask Strength | Yes |
| Bottle count / Outturn | Varies by cask (e.g. 261, 248, 177 bottles) |
| Intended channel | Distillery / specialist retail exclusive |
| Packaging | Standard Kingsbarns bottle with detailed single cask label |
| Notes on discrepancies | Exact ABV and outturn depend on the specific 2016 cask number released |
Historical Context
Kingsbarns is a modern Lowland distillery near St Andrews, founded in 2014 and distilling from late 2014/early 2015. This 2016 Single Cask Release, bottled in 2019 at the legal minimum 3 years, represents some of the earliest spirit the distillery was willing to release in single-cask, cask-strength form. Early Kingsbarns spirit is deliberately light, fruity and estery, so the use of first fill bourbon barrels let the spirit show without being overwhelmed. Because each cask was small and sold largely through the distillery and a handful of specialists, the 2016 single casks are treated as inaugural markers by collectors.
Technical Specification & Variant Map
This was a 3-year-old, cask-strength, single-cask Lowland single malt matured entirely in first fill American bourbon barrels. All were natural colour and unchillfiltered. Differences between bottles are driven purely by cask number, ABV and outturn.
Documented variants
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Cask #1610870: 62.0% ABV, 261 bottles
-
Cask #1610871: 61.8% ABV, 248 bottles
-
Cask #1610872: 61.6% ABV, bottles not stated by the producer (c. 250)
-
Cask #1610748: 61.7% ABV, 177 bottles
Variant Matrix
| ABV | Volume | Cask No. | Age | Relative desirability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62.0% | 70cl | #1610870 | 3 years | High (very early cask) |
| 61.8% | 70cl | #1610871 | 3 years | High (very early cask) |
| 61.7% | 70cl | #1610748 | 3 years | Highest (smallest outturn at 177 bottles) |
| 61.6% | 70cl | #1610872 | 3 years | Good (spec consistent, outturn unspecified) |
Packaging & authenticity checklist
-
Label must show: distillation date (2016), bottling date (2019), age 3 years, cask number, ABV, bottle number/x.
-
Branded Kingsbarns cork with capsule.
-
Fill should be high in neck given young age and recent bottling.
-
Avoid confusion between the different 2016 casks; they look similar.
Regulatory/terminology notes
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3 years is the legal minimum for Scotch.
-
Single Cask and Cask Strength are accurate claims here.
-
Natural Colour and unchillfiltered were part of the distillery’s stated approach for these early casks.
Liquid Profile
-
Nose: Fresh, fruity and estery, with stewed apple, banana, coconut shavings and vanilla.
-
Palate: Young but full, with banana bread, apple sweets, light almond, soft baking spice; oily mouthfeel from high ABV.
-
Finish: Long for its age, sweet, with lingering tropical and vanilla notes.
-
With water: Recommended; a few drops open more tropical fruit and pastry tones.
Pricing & Market Dynamics (GBP)
-
Original RRP: £70.00–£79.00
-
Current UK retail: £70.00–£79.00 where any stock remains
-
Recent UK/EU auction: c. £60.00 (very low volume observed; single casks move privately)
-
Pricing is led by cask number and outturn: the 177-bottle cask should be listed at the top of the band.
-
Liquidity: low, because each cask had under 300 bottles.
Price Snapshot
| Channel | Date | Bottle spec | Price (GBP) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | Recent | Cask #1610871, 61.8%, 70cl | 70 | Specialist listing |
| Retail | Recent | Cask #1610870, 62.0%, 70cl | 79 | Higher RRP band |
| Auction | Recent | Comparable early Kingsbarns single cask | 60 | Hammer, small audience |
Distillery/Bottler Snapshot
Kingsbarns is built to make a light, elegant Lowland spirit using long fermentation and gentle distillation. These first single casks show the core DNA before longer-age releases arrive.
Sourcing
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Prefer any 2016 vintage, 2019 bottled cask, especially the lower-outturn cask.
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Reject bottles with damaged labels that hide the cask number.
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Keep original tube/box where issued.
