Kilchoman – Machir Bay (70cl, 46%)

Machir Bay is a peated Islay single malt from Kilchoman, bottled at 46% in a 70cl bottle. Kilchoman has been operating since 2005 and was the first distillery to open on Islay in 124 years. It was also among the first farm distilleries in Scotland to distil barley grown on site. Long fermentations and narrow cuts give a rich spirit in which citrus, vanilla and toffee play against one another. The nose offers citrus, creamy lemon, vanilla, sweet and tropical fruits, soft spices and a coastal note. The palate runs from pineapple and peach through spiced toffee and dried dark fruits to sweet smoke, honeycomb and cracked pepper. The finish is long, with coastal smoke and peat.