Kilchoman – Ballinaby Oloroso (70cl, 46%)

This is a single malt from Kilchoman, the Islay distillery founded in 2005 on the philosophy of making everything on one site, from barley to bottle. It is bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. The whisky was matured in Oloroso sherry casks, which give this smoky malt its notes of cherry and cocoa. The nose combines dark fruit, sultanas, orange peel and smoke with lively, layered spice. On the palate come dark cherry, toffee and grilled meat, with a touch of salted caramel and bitter dark chocolate. The finish is long, with festive spices, brown sugar, cocoa and noticeable peat smoke.