Kilchoman – Cognac Cask Matured 2023 (70cl, 50%)

This is a Kilchoman single malt from Islay, and the distillery's first release matured in Cognac casks. It is a limited edition of 15,100 bottles, bottled at 50% in a 70cl bottle. Thirty-two Cognac casks from the Bossuet cooperage in France were chosen and matured in Kilchoman's warehouses for at least six years. The whisky is non-chill-filtered and of natural colour. The nose opens with apple and pear, then herbal fresh fruit, honey and warming spice, with gentle peat. The palate is buttery, with dried lemon, apricot, cinnamon and nutmeg over toasted oak and sweet peat smoke. The finish moves from dried fruit and marzipan to crystallised ginger, with peat smoke lifted by citrus oil.