Kilchoman Machir Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Kilchoman Machir Bay Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Situated along a rugged farm on the western coast of Islay, Kilochman Distillery was founded in 2005 and is the first new distillery on Islay in over 125 years. "When we first started work on Kilchoman in 2003," says Anthony Wills, the distillery's founder, "the ambition was to build a distillery that was true to the traditions of distilling on Islay small farm distillers where every part of the whisky making process was done on site and I think we have managed to do just that." Kilchoman Machir Bay Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is made from Publican barley grown directly on Kilochman Distillery's campus (Publican barley is more resilient to Islay's harsh weather than traditional strains of barley). Once the barley has been harvested, it is malted at the distillery's malthouse Kilchoman is one of just six distilleries in Scotland that continues to malt its own barley before being dried over a peat flame for ten hours. After the barley has been peated to approximately 20 phenol parts per million, the grains are fermented for three to four days in stainless steel washbacks before being twice distilled through Kilchoman's copper-pot stills. Kilchoman Machir Bay 2013 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is crafted from a marriage of four and five year-old whiskies that have matured in American oak casks that were previously used to mature bourbon. Following its initial maturation, a portion of the whisky is double-barreled, or finished, for approximately one month in casks that were previously used to mature Oloroso Sherry. "We practice a very strict wood policy regime at Kilchoman, which is crucial in our ability to produce such a high-quality young single malt," says Wills. As a result of the extraordinary strain of barley used to craft the whisky, along with its unique maturation process, the whisky has a peaty aroma with touches of salty tang and citrus. The aroma gives way to notes of vanilla, coconuts, papaya and malt on the palate, which are balanced by hints of cinnamon and baking spices. The finish is peaty and fresh, with a long, lingering touch of vanilla and caramel. Kilchoman Machir Bay Single Malt Whisky was named the Whisky of the Year at the International Whisky Competition in 2013. In addition, the whisky earned the Gold Medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in 2012.