If you are somewhat of a regular around here, you might have noticed the three week gap in posts. In reality, it has been more like a month. Most of the posts I published in January were written or at least started during the Christmas break and posted on my twice-a-week, semi-regular Wednesday and Sunday schedule. I am not in the habit of complaining about my private life here, but let’s just say that the start of 2025 could have been smoother without some personal health issues and a few stressful and critical weeks on the day job. Things seem to be looking up, and I am finally back on my regular schedule. Starting with today’s review of the Kilkerran 8-year-old cask strength in its 2023 ex-Bourbon cask release.
TL:DR: A masterfully interplay between Kilkerran’s signature spirit and a mild Bourbon cask influence/
Score*: 8.5, Something special, and arguably very close to something remarkable
From Campbeltown to Campbeltown
I interrupted my “Full ABV ahead” series on Cask Strength whiskies after the Glen Scotia Victoriana. But my business in Campbeltown was not done. If traffic and whisky thirst traps were my game, the next whisky should have been the Springbank 12 Cask Strength, one of THE unicorn bottles for Single malt lovers. Instead, I decided to go for something easier to find. It is not easy as such, as the Kilkerran Cask Strength can take some effort to find, but it is certainly a bottle that does not disappear from shelves as soon as it is made available. This particular batch, Batch 8 from 2023 (although produced in 2022), is sold out unless you can find some at auction, but new batches are released regularly.
Kilkerran’s Cask Strength
There have been 10 batches of the Kilkerran Cask Strength, starting from the first one bottled back in March 2017. Originally released as a purely ex-Bourbon cask, successive releases have been more often aged in Sherry casks, including the latest two batches, 9 and 10.
For those who want to geek out or are merely curious here is the list for the 10 batches released to date (February 2025)
| BATCH NUMBER | BOTTLED | CASK | ABV |
| 1 | 03/2017 | Bourbon | 56.2% |
| 2 | 10/2017 | Bourbon | 55.7% |
| 3 | 10/2018 | Bourbon | 56.5% |
| 4 | 10/2019 | Re-charred Oloroso | 57.1% |
| 5 | 01/2021 | 1st fill Oloroso | 56.9% |
| 6 | 01/2022 | Sherry | 58.1% |
| 7 | 01/2022 | Port | 57.9% |
| 8 | 11/2022 | Bourbon | 55.8% |
| 9 | 01/2023 | Sherry | 57.5% |
| 10 | 01/2023 | Sherry | 57.4%03/2017 |
Reviewing one of the latest Sherry cask-aged batches might have been more representative of the style of most post-COVID releases. At the same time, I am glad to have grabbed something that harks back to the first releases. So how will the Kilkerran 8-year-old Cask Strength Batch 8 fare in this review? Let’s find out.
Kilkerran 8 Year Old Cask Strenght, ex-Bourbon cask
Specs
Price paid: €85
Lot: 22/232 (Batch 8)
ABV: 55.8%
Natural colour: Yes
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Casks Used: Fully matured in ex-Bourbon casks
Tasting Notes
Colour: Pale lemon yellow. The bottle’s back label clearly states the lack of E150, but even if it hadn’t been there, there would be little doubt that this is natural.
Nose: Rich and intense, and surprisingly considering the ABV, without any alcoholic bite. There is an elegant interplay between the casks and the Kilkerran spirit. The cask influence, with vanilla and white fruit, pears more than apples and a touch of quince, hit first. Then, the spirit character of Kilkerran takes over with a double dose of funkiness – overripe fruits and greasy workshop notes. And then a broad range of background notes that continue to evolve in the glass: some peaty woodsmoke, petrichor, a touch of caramel, spices (cinnamon, ginger and a hint of nutmeg), and a bright sparkly lemon oil note.
With some water, it becomes sweeter, with some golden syrup, stronger notes of vanilla, a touch of hay but still citrusy and slightly funky.
Taste and finish: Mouthcoating without being oily. The Cask Strength ABV is more noticeable on the palate but not excessively hot. Very malty, with white fruit, mostly pear, vanilla immediately. Then some of that funky overripe fruit, some sweet spice (ginger and nutmeg), some woody peat, and even a touch of clean laundry. Underlying these notes there is a refreshing and juicy citrus note, with a slight maritime tinge.
Similarly to the nose, adding a bit of water turns those sweeter but at the same time enhances the malty, spicy and funky notes. As often the case, my preference is for the undiluted sip.
The finish is long, with sweet vanilla and lemon oil, a slightly maritime salinity, a touch of wood smoke and closing on a hint of funk .
Score: 8.5. Something special, and arguably very close to something remarkable
Recently I have been enjoying single malts with a bit more of a cask influence. Not over the top but enought to leave a noticeable influence on the spirit. It might be the wintery vibes and short sunlight hours that make me feel like something opulent and warm. As a result, ex-bourbon whiskies have been getting the short end of the stick. But then I try a whisky like this Kilkerran and I immediately remember the pure pleasure of a well made ex-Bourbon dram.
This Batch 8 Kilkerran Cask Strength is close to the top of the best ex-bourbon drams I have tried, and (after a quick check) the best one I have reviewed here. It hits that perfect balance between spirit character, cask influence and the interplay between the two. And, at 8 years of age, it has no noticeable youth edge.
I am looking forward to trying one of the Sherry-cask aged Kilkerrans too, but one thing is for sure, whatever the next ex-Bourbon batch Kilkerran releases, will go straight at the top of my to buy list.
* Scores are based on the scoring scale used by Dramface, slightly modified to allow half-points
After writing my tasting notes, I always find it interesting to look at other opinions. Here are a few other reviews of the Kilkerran Cask Strength 8 years old Bourbon Cask Matured enjoyed: