Kilchoman – Casado 2022 (70cl, 46%)

Casado is a limited-edition single malt from Kilchoman, named after the Portuguese word for marriage. This 2022 release began with 38 casks of six-year-old, first-fill ex-bourbon Kilchoman, made from the distillery's standard heavily peated spirit (50ppm) distilled in 2014. The casks were married together for two years in two 6,000-litre Portuguese red wine vats before bottling. In all, 12,900 bottles were produced, each in a 70cl bottle. It is non-chill-filtered, naturally coloured and bottled at 46%. The nose combines campfire smoke with peach, plum, cherry and marzipan. Pepper and spice lead on the palate, with dry, salty peat and apricot. The finish is long and spicy, with stewed fruit.