Kilchoman – Loch Gorm 2016 Release (70cl, 46%)

Kilchoman – Loch Gorm 2016 Release is a whisky from Kilchoman (Islay). Aged 6 years, bottled at 46% ABV, 70cl. Kilchoman, which came online in 2005, was the first distillery to be built on Islay for 124 years - and it has garnered a sterling reputation in its short lifespan. In particular, the use of a forward-thinking yet expensive wood policy has meant they have achieved a quality mature period at an early stage by using a high standard of cask. With everything being carried out on site, from floor maltings, distilling and maturation to bottling, it is now one of the largest private employers on Islay. There is some evidence to suggest that Islay, and specifically the Kilchoman parish, was where the first distillation in Scotland occurred as the MacBeatha family settled there in 1300 translating medical texts on distillation from Latin to Gaelic. Richly coloured, and full of Islay smoke and sherry fruit thanks to its initial maturation of over 5 years in Oloroso sherry butts and a two month finish in Oloroso hogsheads.