Kilchoman 100% Islay 8th Edition released

The 8th edition of the 100% Islay series was released yesterday, 10 September 2018, rather than in spring as in previous years. Kilchoman wants to keep the release date in autumn in the future, it is supposed to symbolise the end of the barley harvest on Rockside Farm.

Another novelty in the series, which has so far exclusively used whiskies matured in bourbon barrels, is the use of sherry casks. This year, for the first time, it is a vatting of 23 bourbon barrels and 7 oloroso sherry butts, which were filled from 2008 to 2012. The barley used, of the Optic variety, was harvested in 2007-2011 at Rockside Farm, which is part of the distillery.
According to Anthony Wills, the sherry casks (about 40%) give the whisky additional depth and fullness of flavour to the otherwise predominant flavours of fresh fruit and vanilla tones.

The design of the bottles is also new: they have been given a clear polypropylene label by award-winning designer Craig Mackinlay of Breeze Creative, with whom Kilchoman has famously worked since the distillery was founded, which differs from the traditional transfer-onto-glass variant. The new type of labelling gives the bottling a really high-quality look and will certainly lead to more attention on the sales shelf.

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Cask type: 23 Bourbon Barrels & 7 Oloroso Sherry Butts

Vintage: 2008–2012

Bottled: August / September 2018

Strength: 50,0 % abv

Level of phenols in malted barley: approx. 20 ppm

Number of bottles: 12.000

Bottle size: 0,7 l / 0,75 l

Bottle codes:
100 27.08.18 18/73
100 28.08.18 18/73
100 29.08.18 18/73
100 30.08.18 18/73
100 04.09.18 18/73
100 05.09.18 18/73

Barcode: 5 060210 701758

Distribution: worldwide