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
Visit the official Kilchoman site at www.kilchomandistillery.com
Kilchoman Machir Bay
Also available in Gift Sets
Machir Bay, our signature peated Single Malt, is a vatting of Kilchoman matured in both Bourbon and Sherry casks. Named after Islay’s most spectacular beach, the high proportion of Bourbon barrels create a distinct balance of classic Islay character and fresh floral complexity.
Nose: Soft cooked fruits with strong peaty aromas.
Palate: Soft mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness.
Finish: A Classic islay malt now showing the benefit of additional ageing. A long lingering finish.
Kilchoman Sanaig
Named after an inlet on Islay’s rugged Atlantic coast, Sanaig is a vatting of both Sherry and Bourbon casks. The high proportion of Oloroso Sherry influence adding a balance of dried fruits and spices to classic Kilchoman citrus sweetness and peat smoke character.
Kilchoman Machir Bay Cask Strength
- 2021 Edition Description
- 2021 Edition Tasting Notes
- Festive Edition Description
- Festive Edition Tasting Notes
- Awards
- Reviews
Delayed from its scheduled release in 2021, Machir Bay Cask Strength was finally released in 2022 and arrived to the US in 2023. This edition is made using the same vatting recipe as regular Machir Bay however, rather than reducing the strength to 46% abv Kilchoman released a limited number of bottles at cask strength; 58.3% abv. The higher abv allows for the quality and intensity of the Kilchoman spirit to shine.
Nose: Opens with light, fruity notes influenced by our distillation. Being cask strength, allows for intense waves of fresh green apple followed by candied tropical fruits. Lasting hints of dry, earthy peat smoke become the backbone for the 2021 release.
Palate: Noticeably powerful at cask strength allowing for a concentrated palate combining citrus notes of lemon and orange peel. As the whisky opens it reveals a dominant honeycomb-sweetness that makes way for a profile driven by milk chocolate, provided by a Bourbon-rich maturation.
Finish: A slight cracked black pepper spice combined with nutmeg. The oily, rich texture of this whisky delivers an increasingly smoky influence. Overall, a unique balance of heavily peated malt, slow distillation, and Oak character.
On Islay, even the sheep celebate the festive season. There’s nothing better on a dark wintery night than a large dram of cask strength Kilchoman. So this year we’ve decided that rather than reducing Machir Bay to our standard 46% abv bottling strength we’ll release a limited number of bottles at cask strength; 58.6% abv. That should keep out the cold!
Nose: Lemon zest, vanilla and distinct coastal influence give way to floral intensity, juicy peaches, pears, and wafts of rich spices.
Palate: Bursts of tropical fruit and dried sultanas, warming smoke and waves of honey, malt, butterscotch and rich sweetness.
Finish: Sherry-soaked fruit, cracked black pepper and sea salt. Long-lasting with layers of citrus sweetness and maritime peat.
Kilchoman Batch Strength
Matured in a combination of re-charred red wine casks, Oloroso Sherry butts and Bourbon barrels, a few drops of water were added post maturation to produce a Batch Strength of 57% abv. The result is a colossal dram combining the natural peat smoke and citrus character of Kilchoman with dark fruits, rich spices and salted caramel sweetness.
Nose: Red fruits, fresh cherries, heather blossom, and intense peat smoke.
Palate: Toffee, rich spices, vanilla, and lasting peat smoke.
Finish: Silky viscosity with fresh crumpets, butter, and honey.
Kilchoman Loch Gorm
Loch Gorm is the name given to our annual Sherry matured limited edition. Named after Islay’s largest freshwater lake neighboring the distillery, the dark murky color of the loch’s water is reflected in the rich coppery tones of our Sherry matured Loch Gorm release.
Loch Gorm 2022 Edition was matured in Oloroso Sherry Butts previously used by Bodega Jose y Miguel Martin for a minimum of eight years. The 22 casks selected are a combination of 20 fresh and 2 refill casks. The Sherry soaked Oak adds layers of rich fruity character which balance beautifully with classic Kilchoman peat smoke and citrus flavors.
Nose: Intense sweet pipe smoke, followed by waves of freshly cut strawberries and candied lemon peel. Lighter notes of Neroli (orange blossoms), soft toffee, and cloves.
Palate: An initial note of dark chocolate and toasted walnuts, gentle tobacco smokiness, hints of caramel and dates accompanied by subtle warming peat smoke.
Finish: Long and evolving with cinnamon and licorice wood, chocolate bitters and lingering earthy smoke.
The Spirits Busines Scotch Whisky Masters 2021 – Gold
International Spirits Challenge 2021 – Gold
Top 20 Whiskies of 2018 by Whisky Advocate
Scotch Whisky Masters 2015 – Gold
IWSC 2015 – Silver Outstanding Medal
91 points by WhiskyCast – 2014 Edition
94 points, 10 Highest Scoring Whiskies in the Winter Buying Guide (2021)
WhiskyCast Review Review by DrinkHacker Robb Report
91 points by Whisky Advocate (2 consecutive years)
Kilchoman 100% Islay
Our 100% Islay range is the world’s only Single Farm Single Malt Scotch Whisky. It represents the revival of traditional farm distilling; growing our own barley before malting, distilling, maturing and bottling every bottle of our 100% Islay range on site.
The 100% Islay 13th Edition was distilled from our 2012, 2013, and 2014 barley harvests before being matured for a minimum of 8 years in 44 Bourbon barrels.
13,000 bottles Worldwide, 1,170 bottles for the US
50% abv.
20 PPM
Nose: Malt loaf, toffee apple, banana bread, citrus, lavender, pear drops, sea salt, and hints of peat smoke.
Palate: Fresh vanilla and fragrant peat smoke with caramel, barley blossom, sultanas, and hints of spicy Oak tannins.
Finish: Silky viscosity with fresh crumpets, butter, and honey.
Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2019 – 95 points
Scotch Whisky masters 2015 – Gold
The Fifty Best 2016 – Gold Medal
2017 LA Spirits Competition – Gold Medal- 90 points, Best of Category
Kilchoman Cognac Cask Matured 2023
We welcome our first ever Cognac Cask Matured release as part of our 2023 Limited Editions. 32 casks were chosen by Anthony and Robin for their exceptional quality. Our Kilchoman spirit was filled into those Cognac casks and left to age in our warehouses for a minimum of six years. The Cognac casks were sourced from Tonellerie Bossuet (France).
When combining these 32 casks together, each individual cask plays an important part in the final vatting. Each cask captures its own degree of flavor but when brought together, a wonderfully rich, herbaceous sweet spice can easily be identified. The maritime Kilchoman peat smoke shines through.
32 Cask Vatting
15,100 bottles Worldwide, 1,062 for the US
50% abv.
50 PPM
Nose: An opening note of rich apple and pear forms the structure for this release. Herbaceous fresh fruit begins to make its way as the whisky begins to open. Subtle tones of honey and warming spice develop over time. Peat remains delicate on the nose, bringing a dryness to this release.
Palate: The texture provided by a slow distillation and the influence of the Cognac. Oak allows for a buttery texture which continues throughout. Dried lemon and apricot combine with cinnamon and nutmeg which are held together by an influence of toasted Oak and sweet peat smoke.
Finish: The depth of flavor that the Cognac casks have provided the Kilchoman spirit is unrivalled; dried
fruits and marzipan make way to crystalized ginger, balancing sweet and spice. Lingering peat smoke is
lightened with the influence of citrus oil making itself known across the palate.
Kilchoman Fino Cask Matured 2023
Following on from the success of our previous edition of Fino Sherry Matured in 2020 – which was Kilchoman’s first global release of that style of cask – our journey with Fino has continued over the years.
Closely monitored by Anthony, the 2023 limited edition Fino Sherry Cask Matured becomes our second Fino release. Anthony and Robin have hand-selected a total of 20 Fino Sherry Butts of which the spirit was distilled in 2018. Fino provides our spirit with an entirely alternative maturation style; one which isn’t often seen from the distillery with more emphasis typically placed on Oloroso Sherry casks, predominantly used for our expressions of Sanaig and Loch Gorm. As ever, the Sherry butts were purchased from Bodega Jose y Miguel Martin (Spain) for their impeccable standard. Each cask selected for Fino Cask Matured has been chosen for its quality and individuality. Combining 20 of these casks together after a minimum of five years of maturation has developed a dry salinity which is balanced with a green fresh fruit influence and elongated delicate Islay peat smoke.
20 cask vatting
15,650 bottles worldwide. 1,128 for the US
50% abv.
50 PPM
Nose: Elegant, dry peat smoke on the initial nosing, gradually opens to the unmistakable fruity character of Kilchoman. The distinct influence from the Fino Sherry casks provides dry, smoked Oak which balances with the smoke found in the heavily peated Kilchoman malt. A lasting aroma of sweet butterscotch as the whisky begins to open.
Palate: Honeycomb sweetness can be found immediately on the palate, gradually giving way to rich toffee and caramel. The Kilchoman spirit brings together candied fruits and the fresh citrus found in the distillation. Flaked almonds and a delicate peat smoke remain throughout.
Finish: Long-lasting considered finish combining the malty spirit of Kilchoman, with the ripened citrus fruit profile provided by the Fino Sherry casks. A subtle peat smoke which has coated the palate right through now shares the finish with hints of dark chocolate.
Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Matured (2023)
A 61 cask vatting matured for a minimum of five years in Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks previously used by Bodega José y Miguel Martin, Jerez, Spain.
23,000 bottles Worldwide, 1,980 bottles for the US
50% abv.
50 PPM
“The 2023 PX Sherry Cask Matured release is our first limited edition to be fully matured in PX casks. Some might consider five years to be a short maturation, but these PX hogsheads give such a rich and sweet character, shorter maturation is the only option to maintain a good balance of flavor. Here, the citrus sweetness and peat smoke of our spirit balance beautifully with the PX character to create a multi-dimensional whisky, rich and sweet with hints of light citrus sweetness and waves of maritime peat smoke.”
~ANTHONY WILLS, KILCHOMAN FOUNDER
Nose: Sweet sultanas and raisins; with rounded peat smoke , layers of licorice and hints of citrus sweetness.
Palate: Brown sugar and malty sweetness then orange peel, citrus, dark chocolate, and wavers of Sherry sweetness.
Finish: Chocolate coated raisins, oak smoke, mixed spices and lasting PX sweetness.
15 Peated Scotch Whiskies with Top Scores – Whisky Advocate – 92 Points
Kilchoman 16 Year Old
With a marriage of both ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, this release showcases how the recognized Kilchoman flavors and character has developed over the last 16 years of maturation.
Anthony and Robin have spent the last few years keeping a close eye on these early casks, waiting for the right moment to vat them together and form this momentous Kilchoman 16 Years Old.
50% abv – 21 cask vatting at 50PPM
Nose: Delighfully rich with a creamy citrus sweetness and laywers of cooked apples, pears, plums, and nutmeg.
Palate: A masterful balance of festive spices, fresh vanilla, tropical fruit, and smoldering peat smoke.
Finish: Dried mango and apricots; with BBQ smoke and lasting mouth-coating honey sweetness.
Kilchoman Small Batch US Exclusives
- No. 1 (Port)
- No. 2 (Madeira)
- No. 3 (Ruby Port)
- No. 4 (Madeira)
- No. 5 (Sauternes)
- No. 7 (STR)
- No. 8 (Port)
- B.I.B. 9 yo (Wheated Bourbon Barrels)
This Small Batch Vatting, exclusively available in the USA, combines ex-Bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with one one specially selected Port Cask at natural cask strength.
Cask Influence:
70% BOURBON / 5% SHERRY / 25% PORT
The result is a marriage of citrus and peat smoke notes with layers of red currents, fresh vanilla pods, and dark chocolate.
1,260 Bottles at 48.5% abv
Nose: Classic Kilchoman citrus sweetness gives way to red currant jelly and waves of peat smoke and sea spray.
Palate: Notes of marmalade are interwoven with tobacco, peat, and hints of wine-soaked oak.
Finish: Layers of toffee and cocoa that go on for days.
This Small Batch Vatting, exclusively available in the USA, combines ex-Bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with one one specially selected Madeira Cask at natural cask strength.
70% BOURBON / 5% SHERRY / 25% MADEIRA
The result is a marriage of citrus and peat smoke with layers of cinnamon, mixed spice, and red fruits.
1,260 Bottles at 48.5% abv
“Classic Kilchoman citrus sweetness, peat, smoke, and sea spray; with layers of red fruits, mixed spices, and cinnamon. On the palate peat smoke gives way to Oak, all spice, and cardamon with waves stewed fruit. The sweetness and sea spray returns on the finish carried through by the 48.5% abv bottling strength meaning the dram changes and develops as the palate acclimatises”
~James Wills, US Brand Ambassdor
This Small Batch Vatting, exclusively available in the USA, combines ex-Bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with one one specially selected Ruby Port Cask at natural cask strength.
50% RUBY PORT/ 47% BOURBON / 3% SHERRY
The result is a marriage of citrus and peat smoke with layers of red berries, stewed plum, and smoked paprika.
1,260 Bottles at 48.9% abv
“Normally we wouldn’t use such a large proportion of Port matured whisky for a Small Batch however USA Batch No.1 was such a success that we thought we’d revisit this style but this time with even more Port cask influence. Peat smoke and citrus give way to red fruits on the nose with paprika and tobacco sweetness, coastal freshness, and stewed fruits on the palate before a long-lasting finish of cinnamon and vanilla carried by the higher 48.9% abv”
~James Wills, US Brand Ambassdor
This Small Batch Vatting, exclusively available in the USA, combines ex-Bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with one one specially selected Madeira Cask at natural cask strength.
65% BOURBON / 30% MADEIRA/ 5% SHERRY
The result is a marriage of citrus and peat smoke with layers of mixed berry jam, toffee, and cloves.
1,260 Bottles at 48.1% abv
“Classic Kilchoman citrus sweetness gives way to red currant Jelly and waves of peat smoke and sea spray On the palate notes of marmalade are interwoven with tobacco, peat, and hints of wine-soaked Oak. The sweetness returns on the finish, with layers of toffee and cocoa whilst the 48. 5% abv means the dram changes and develops as the palate acclimatises”
~James Wills, US Brand Ambassdor
This Small Batch Vatting, exclusively available in the USA, combines ex-Bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with one one specially selected Sauternes cask at natural cask strength.
70% BOURBON / 5% OLOROSO SHERRY / 25% SAUTERNES CASK
The result is a marriage of classic Kilchoman citrus and peat smoke notes with layers of peaches, honey, and white grape sweetness.
1,260 Bottles at 48.3% abv
“Classic Kilchoman citrus sweetness, peat smoke, and sea spray with layers of red fruits, mixed spices, and cinnamon. On the palate peat smoke gives way to Oak, allspice, and cardamon with waves of stewed fruit. The sweetness and sea spray returns on the finish carried through by the 48.3% abv bottling strength meaning the dram changes and develops as the palate acclimatises”
~James Wills, US Brand Ambassador
2021 Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards – Gold Medal
This Small Batch Vatting, exclusively available in the USA, combines ex-Bourbon barrel and ex-Sherry cask matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with one one specially selected STR (Shaved, Toasted, and Re-charred) cask at natural cask strength.
70% BOURBON / 5% OLOROSO SHERRY / 25% STR (Shaved, Toasted, Re-charred) CASK
The result is a marriage of classic Kilchoman citrus and peat smoke notes with layers of red fruits, festive spices, and cinnamon sweetness.
1,260 Bottles at 50% ABV
This Small Batch vatting combines Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry matured Kilchoman at 46% ABV with specially selected 2014 Ruby Port hogsheads, at natural cask strength. The result is a marriage of classic Kilchoman citrus and peat smoke with layers of red fruits, boiled sweets, and vanilla.
Cask Influence:
20% Port
75% Bourbon
5% Sherry
2,550 bottle US Exclusive
47.7% abv.
This unique release is a collaborative project between Kilchoman and ImpEx. It’s a tribute to the Bottled in Bond legacy of Bourbon in the US, a nod to the journey of our wheated bourbon barrels that travel from KY to Islay to mature Kilchoman before returning to the US as Single Malt Scotch. A true testament to the best of both American and Scotch whisk(e)y.
The Kilchoman B.I.B Small Batch is a vatting of five ex-Wheated Bourbon Barrels distilled in spring 2012, bottled in the spring 2021 at 100 Proof.
Nose: Citrus, rich spices, caramel sweetness, and light peat smoke.
Palate: Vanilla and baked apples with stone fruit and waves of Christmas spices.
Finish: Malt, honey, and maritime smoke with layers of cooked fruits and cinnamon.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 12 yo Bourbon
This single cask, bottled exclusively for ImpEx Beverages, was matured for 12 years in a Bourbon barrel previously used by Buffalo Trace distillery, Kentucky. After 12 years maturing in our Islay warehouses the whisky has taken on layers of vanilla and caramelized sugar from the Bourbon barrels which marry beautifully with the citrus sweetness and peat smoke of Kilchoman.
Cask# 427/2010
207 Bottles, 50 PPM, 54.6% abv
Nose: Citrus, biscuit dough, honey, and fresh vanilla.
Palate: Light peat smoke, fresh herbs, and tropical fruit with waves of citrus sweetness.
Finish: Long-lasting with layers of malt, lemon, fresh baking, and wafts of smoke.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 7 yo PX Matured
This Single Cask bottling was fully matured in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry hogshead for over seven years. Over the years, the Sherry-soaked Oak has added layers of rich sweetness to the classic citrus and peat smoke character typical of Kilchoman
Cask# 915/2014
310.Bottles at 58.4% abv. 50 PPM
Nose: BBQ sweetness, salty peat smoke, and light citrus sweetness.
Palate: Mixed spices with layers of cooked fruits, berry jam, and ashy peat smoke.
Finish: Rounded with waves of richness and smoke.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 8 yo STR Finish
This eight year old Single Cask bottling was matured in a Bourbon Barrel for seven years then finished in a Shaved Toasted & Re-charred red wine cask for a further year. The two casks have added layers of red fruits and cinnamon to the classic citrus and peat smoke character typical of Kilchoman Single Malts.
Cask # 735/2013
242 Bottles at 56% abv. 50 PPM
Nose: Meaty smoke with ripe apples and hints of citrus.
Palate: Tropical fruits, berries, ripe orchard fruits, and sweet Oak smoke.
Finish: Juicy sweetness, salty smoke, and lasting citrus.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 7 yo Mezcal Finish
Nose: Rounded fruit with layers of ashy smoke, maritime influence, and mezcal smoke.
Palate: Garden herbs, sweet citrus, ripe fruits, and tobacco with blasts of Islay peat.
Finish: Crisp and peppery with lasting sweeetness.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 8 yo Tequila Finish
This 8 year old Single Cask was matured in a Bourbon barrel before being finished in a
Tequila cask for 13 months.
ImpEx Cask Evolution 03/2021 – Tequila Finish 55.7% alc. 50 PPM
236.Bottles US Exlusive Cask 636/2013
Nose: Notes of green agave, fresh red chili peppers, and citrus sweetness.
Palate: Fresh spices, maritime smoke, and ripe tropical fruit.
Finish: Waves of citrus, caramel sweetness, and lasting peat smoke.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution Special Edition 2006 14 yr
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 04/2021 – 7 yo Sauternes Finish
This seven year old single cask was matured in a Bourbon Barrel before being finished in a Sauternes wine cask for ten months prior to bottling.
7 YEARS OLD; 50 PPM
250.BOTTLES at 55.1 % ABV
Nose: Tropical fruit, boiled sweets, and light peat smoke.
Palate: Honey and vanilla with waves of creamy Sauternes sweetness.
Finish: Layers of peat smoke, mixed fruit, and oaky dryness.
Kilchoman ImpEx Cask Evolution 8 yo Ruby Port
Cask Number: 203/2013
Filled/distilled: 04/04/2013
Regauged in Ruby Port: 24/01/2020
Bottled: 8/6/2021
Strength: 55.9% abv
Really jammy, and then the palate offered some smoked, glazed meats with a touch of Port in the finish. A great Kilchoman!
Tasting notes provided by a panel of trusted palates and friends of ImpEx – Travis Williams, Fernando Castorena, and Elijah Ammon.
Kilchoman Comraich
Kilchoman Comraich is a global network of bars dedicated to the enjoyment of Kilchoman Single Malt.
Here you will find the finest and widest range of Kilchoman Single Malts, including special Comraich bottlings exclusively available from Comraich sanctuaries.
Kilchoman Comraich establishments serve as bastions of Kilchoman with exclusive access to the Kilchoman Comraich batches.
These will be available solely from the Comraichs along with a wide range of other Kilchoman bottlings.
View a current list of establishments here
Comraich Batch No. 5 is a vatting matured in fresh Port casks, all over seven years of age.
The Kilchoman spirit has spent its full maturation term in fresh Port hogsheads, bottled at their natural cask strength, bringing through the full influence of the Port soaked Oak on both the color and flavor of this whisky.
The ruined Kilchoman Church stands proudly beneath the cliffs of Creag Mhór, half a mile west of the distillery. Chief amongst its artefacts are early Christian sanctuary stones marking an area of Comraich (Gaelic for sanctuary), surrounding the church, safe from harassment and arrest.
Search Kilchoman Comraich to find your nearest Sanctuary.
55.5 % ABV 50PPM
4 FRESH PORT HOGSHEADS 7YEARS OLD
Tasting Notes: Layers of red berries, candied fruits, citrus, and caramel are evident on the palate; with creamy vanilla and warming maritime Peat smoke coming through.
Comraich Batch No. 6 is a ten-year-old release combining four ex-Bourbon barrels from 2011 and 2012, finished in two fresh 400 litre Calvados casks for one year then bottled at their natural cask strength of 53.9%abv.