Kilchoman Comraich Batch No. 3

Cask Numbers: 524/2008, 528/2008, 275/2010

Cask type: 1st Fill-Ex-Bourbon Barrels (524 & 528/2008), Oloroso Sherry Butt (275/2010)

Dates Filled: 16.10.2008, 28.5.2010

Date Bottled: 10.10.2019

Age: 9 yo

Strength: 55,7 % abv

Phenol level: approx. 20 ppm

Number of bottles: approx. 1000

Bottle volume: 0,7 l / 0,75 l / 0,02 l

Distribution: only served in the Comraich Bars

.

With the 3rd batch of Kilchoman Comraich, a 100% Islay whisky was available to taste for the first time in this series in autumn 2019. The vatting consisted of two almost 11-year-old bourbon barrels and a good 9-year-old Oloroso sherry butt. Samples of this release were part of the Kilchoman Comraich Online Tasting on 21 October 2021 and could also be purchased temporarily at the Kilchoman Visitors Centre in late summer/autumn 2021.

.

Tasting Notes:

HPN:

Nose: Strawberry, strawberry, strawberry – the typical fruitiness of a 100% Islay whisky dominates everything here. Plus a nice ashy peat smoke. Surprisingly few sherry notes: some coffee, spice and furniture polish – but all rather restrained. 89

Taste: Very sweet and oily, again all-dominant strawberry, bacony smoke, some spice, pepper and furniture polish behind, malty and creamy. 90

Finish: Medium length, fruity, a little smoky-dry. 89

Although very similar in age and cask composition to Batch No. 1, the sherry cask was much less active here. In addition, the typical 100% Islay fruit notes dominate, which I like very much. 89 / 100 points

.

Archer:

Nose: Although pulled through a sherry casks, the nose bears a clear resemblance to Batch 2, in which only bourbon casks were used. Sometimes a bit pointed, with herbs and lots of pepper. Withdrawn note of smoke, rather a cold campfire than a crackling beach fire. Warm tar, seaweed, salty sea spray. 86

Taste: Like Batch 2, Batch 3 is the purest revelation on the tongue: sweet blackberries and strawberries, fantastic greasy smoke that goes with it, pepper, salt, seaweed, warm marine diesel. Fruit sweetness and smoke / flavor complement each other perfectly. Yoghurt chocolate, toffee, malt, hardly dry, creamy for a very long time. 91

Finish: Gets drier over time, but holds on to all of the aromas on the palate for a very long time. The peat smoke is still cautious and stands faithfully alongside the long-lasting fruit aromas. 90

And another one (like Comraich Batch 2) that makes the nose understatement, then gives it everything on the palate and in the finish. 89 / 100 points

.