Kilchoman 100% Islay Single Cask 321/2008 for K&L Wine Merchants

Cask No.: 321/2008

Cask type: Bourbon Barrel, Oloroso Sherry Finish

Date Filled: 3.7.2008

Date Bottled: 3.9.2012

Age: 4 yo

Strength: 61,6 % abv

Level of phenols in malted barley: approx. 20 ppm

Bottle volume: 0,75 l

Barcode: 8 92032 04344 1

Market: USA

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Shortly after one of the first Oloroso Sherry single cask bottlings, the Californian wine and spirits shop K&L Wines released the very first 100% Islay release for the USA. In the 100% Islay production line, which is somewhat weaker peated at approx. 20 ppm, it is known that all production steps from barley to bottle – from the cultivation and harvesting of the barley to the bottling – are carried out exclusively by Kilchoman itself and establish its self-image as a farm distillery.

The whisky was first matured in a Buffalo Trace bourbon barrel and then finished in an Oloroso sherry cask.

As with many early Kilchoman single cask releases for the US, only the importer, ImpEx Beverages, is listed on the bottle; a reference to K & L Wine Merchants can only be found on the box.

And also like other US single cask releases from mid-2012 to summer 2013, the bottle is too long for the box, which results in an unsightly dent in the top of the box. The reason for this is that Kilchoman switched to a new bottle shape for the 700 ml bottles in mid-2011, but the numerous 750ml bottles still available for the US were used up, which lasted until July 2013. The old, taller boxes were apparently all gone by mid-2012, so it was decided not to re-produce them, but to use the slightly squatter boxes that had been produced for the new bottle format.

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