The first permanent release from the small Campbeltown distillery, Kilkerran 12 yo was born in 2016.
Lightly peated and unchill-filtered, it is aged 70% in bourbon barrels and 30% in sherry casks.
Tasting notes from Thomas
The nose opens with a moderate but characterful peatiness. It tends towards mineral (cold stone, sand), iodine and vegetation (camphor, licorice, seaweed). Yet there's a lovely sweetness at work: candied lemons, pineapple, white fruit juices are all present. Gradually, cereal notes (malt, wheat) emerge, as do beautiful notes of quince paste.
Aeration brings out the aromatic precision. There's salt and pepper, while a farmhouse cream gradually takes shape. The citrus fruits are polymorphous (preserved lemons, lemon juice, zest), while the mineral note gains strength. Finally, a touch of narghile charcoal provides a smoky variation.
The palate is just as rich as the nose. The peat is still carried by mineral notes (sand, chalk) and vegetal notes (seaweed, eucalyptus). Lemon juice, pineapple, farmhouse cream and pastry take their place in the first part of the palate. Then, a lovely malty note, pineapple juice, quince paste and citron change the game, adding an obvious greediness.
The finish is fresher, but in the same vein as the palate. The peat is still mineral, with a slightly smoky return and hints of licorice. Pineapple, lemon in all its forms and quince paste also play the role of first-rate aromatic acolytes.
" A lightly peated whisky, representing Campbeltown with bluffing finesse..."
