Kilchoman - Sanaig
Price: $69.70
distiller.com 92 Points.
| Producer | Kilchoman |
| Country | Scotland |
| Region | Islay |
| Style | Single Malt Scotch |
| Sku | 03763 |
Kilchoman Description
Kilchoman Distillery was founded in 2005 and is the first distillery to be built on Islay for over 120 years. It is a farm distillery and a proportion of the barley used in production is grown and malted at the distillery. Kilchoman displays all that is great about the grass-roots traditions of Scotch whisky distilling. As well as being one of only a handful of distilleries still practicing floor malting, barley is also grown on the farm, making Kilchoman the only distillery to complete all parts of the whisky making process on site. Kilchoman truly is Islay’s farm distillery – from barley to bottling.
Anthony Wills and his wife, Kathy, created Kilchoman from a collection of derelict farm buildings in 2005, and in doing so, established the first new distillery on Islay in over 124 years. Their passion for whisky has transformed Kilchoman from a dream into a celebrated reality. The small team at this farm distillery controls as many aspects of the production process as possible, from growing their own barley, to floor malting the grain on site, to operating the stills by hand. Their resulting Single Malt Whiskies have become highly-prized ambassadors of this next generation of Islay producers.
Sanaig, named after an inlet on Islay’s rugged Atlantic cost, is a vatting of Kilchoman matured in both sherry and bourbon barrels. This sherry cask scotch whisky is matured in a high proportion of oloroso barrels, imparting a balance of dried fruits, dark chocolate and rich peat smoke into the spirit.
The west coast of Islay, from Portnahaven to Sanaigmore, is regularly battered by strong Atlantic storms. These high winds and rough seas have carved into the coastline to dramatic effect, none more so than at the north-western tip where our Sanaig release has gained it’s name.
“Sanaig neatly balances the contrasting influences of rich sherry maturation, bourbon barrel finesse and Islay peat smoke.”
– ANTHONY WILLS, KILCHOMAN FOUNDER
NOSE: Fragrant heather, raisins, pear and orange peel with waves of stoned fruits, mixed spices and rich peat smoke.
PALATE: Over ripe plums, red cherries and hints of citrus give way to rich barbeque peat smoke, toffee, oak and dark chocolate.
FINISH: Mouth-coating mixed fruit, caramel, cinnamon and clove with layers of brown sugar, spices, peat smoke and lasting sweetness.
