Most of his series about Cask Strength Scottish whisky core releases has focused on bottles with some peat influence. I started with Glasgow Distillery’s Peated Cask Strength to finally make my way to Islay, starting with this review of the Kilchoman Batch strength. This bottle had made a cheeky appearance in my Kilchoman Machir Bay and Sanaig review pic. So maybe, if you are a regular, it is not too surprising to finally see it appear with a dedicated post
TL:DR: An enjoyable & strongly peated high ABV Islay
Score*: 7, Very good stuff
The latest addition to Kilchoman’s core lineup
The Kilchoman Batch Strength I am about to review is the latest addition to Kilchoman’s Core range, joining the Machir Bay and Sanaig I previously reviewed. This is not Kilchoman’s first Batch or cask strength (more about that in a second) release. Besides several single cask and special releases, both Machir Bay and Sanaig have been released as Cask Strength Special editions. Considering what other Islay distilleries are charging for cask/batch strength releases, think Lagavulin’s yearly 12 year old special release or Laphroaig’s Càirdeas, it is great to have a more affordable and regular option to sample the island’s whisky at high ABV.
Batch vs Cask Strength
Why is Kilchoman bottling this as Batch Strength rather than Cask Strength and is there a difference? Although used similarly, the two are very different. Cask Strenght is a legally binding term for Scottish whisky. It is defined as follows:
“the alcoholic strength of “cask strength” Scotch Whisky must not be adjusted after maturation”
Or, in other terms, once the whisky is fully mature and, if more than one cask is used, vatted, the ABV cannot be adjusted in any way (so no water added). This is the main reason why Cask Strength whiskies are often bottled in specific Batches which vary in ABV.
Batch Strength is not a legally binding term, but it is used to indicate in a more generic way a whisky bottled at high ABV and, usually, at a consistent one at that. This consistent ABV is achieved by adding water when needed. This allows a distillery to release whiskies which are less variable batch by batch. And it is the main reason why Kilchoman decided to go this route.
Be it Cask Strength or Batch Strength, the proof is in the pudding so let’s get on with the review of the Kilchoman Batch Strength.
Kilchoman Batch Strength
Specs
Price paid: €64.90
Bottled date: 17/4/24
ABV: 57%
Natural colour: Yes
Non-chill filtered: Yes
Casks Used: re-charred red wine casks, oloroso sherry butts and bourbon barrels.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Golden, with a light copper hue.
Nose: Strongly peated – if peat fire is your jam, you could use an open glass of this as an ambient diffuser. Behind the peat, there are sweeter notes: heather flowers, some red fruit (cherry and maybe fresh plums), citrus peel and a touch of caramel and vanilla. As it continues to breathe, a green vegetal note of fennel emerges, as well as a slight savoury hint of Maggi sauce. It’s pleasant, but, for a cask strength, sorry, batch strength whisky, it comes across a bit light.
As you would expect, adding water tones the peat down. While it makes things a bit sweeter, it keeps the notes quite similar to those of the undiluted notes.
Taste and Finish: The nose made me wonder if the palate would be likewise on the lighter side. Those fears were immediately dismissed. On the palate, this packs a punch. Rich, mouth-coating toffee, spices, and ashy, slightly medicinal peat hit first, followed by more delicate fruity notes (pear, cherries), slightly maritime, and chocolatey.
Adding water has the effect I usually experience, it increases the sweetness and spiciness but dilutes the finer notes. This is one I prefer undiluted. The finish is long, malty, and peaty, with fruit, spice, and a hint of tobacco right at the end.
Score*: 7. Very good stuff.
Kilchoman’s character, for me, is one that consistently delivers clean, relatively straightforward and very enjoyable whiskies. I am sure some will disagree, and I also recognise that some of the special releases don’t always match this style. Whatever your opinion, after today’s review, I can confidently state the Kilchoman Batch Strenght follows this style to the letter. This is not an overly complex meditation dram, but it is a very good option to sample an Islay single malt at a higher ABV. And in today’s premiumised pricing environment, it comes at a fair price. Not to say I would mind if Kilchoman lowered it a bit!
* Scores are based on the scoring scale used by Dramface, slightly modified to allow half-points
Interested in my take on a specific whisky style? Check the full Journey here and jump to the relevant Chapter.
After writing my tasting notes, I always find it interesting to look at other opinions. Here are a few other reviews of Kilchoman Batch Strength I enjoyed:
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