A classic Campbeltown single malt with good character and balance. Very limited in availability, so don't miss out on a taste of this if you can.
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The details
Distillery: Mitchell's Glengyle [Map link]
Region: Campbeltown
Bottler: Distillery
Age: 12 years old
Bottle: 70cl, cork top
Number of bottles: 9000
ABV: 46%
Cask type: 70% bourbon/30% sherry
Filtered/coloured: Non chill filtered. No added colouring.
Sample date: Tuesday 9th November 2021
Peated/unpeated: Lightly peated
Cost: £38.95 from Master of Malt
Availability: Sold out at UK retailers. With a very limited (and anticipated) annual release, all the Kilkerran expressions sell out within days. This may be available at auction for a relatively small increase on the retail price.
Barcode: 610854002527
Glengyle has produced Kilkerran 12 year old since 2016. This is the Kilkerran 12 in the new, more curvy bottle shape—having previously been presented in a taller, slimmer, straight-edge bottle (the standard whisky bottle shape).
From the bottle
Tasting notes
Eye
An unremarkable light gold. Unlike deeply-sherried Speyside's this gives no hints.
Nose
Almonds, digestive biscuits, vanilla, victoria sponge cake. Faint cherry. Light, fresh lemon. Dried fruit. Attic floorboards? Creosote. HP sauce/Branston pickle. A touch of peat. A little herbal presence. An interesting and well-balanced first nose. Different influences that all work together without becoming formless. After water, more floral, grassy notes come forward and the peatiness recedes to a background sweet peat. Smartie-shell sugariness mixed with some saltiness.
SCORE: 23/25
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Taste
Oily mouthfeel. Spice and oak on the palette. Dry warmth, dried fruit, Cadbury Crunchie/butterscotch, with subdued peatiness underneath. Fruitiness arrives a moment later. The sherry cask influence comes out on the sides of the tongue. After water the barley sweetness bounces up, carrying a toffee note.
After a touch of water, it becomes sweeter with rich caramel and the sherry comes out to complement it. There's something slightly reminiscent of Lagavulin about this.
SCORE: 22/25
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Finish
Dried fruits, sherry influence. Smooth. This doesn't really need water at 46%. Slightly salty finish. Fades slowly leaving a little peppery heat that punctuates nicely.
After water, a hint of nutella appears.
SCORE: 21/25
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Overall
Well-balanced with plenty going on. I nosed this for a long time without feeling the urge to hurry and taste it. Water changes the balance and lets some different flavours through...but it doesn't need much. This could very easily be over-watered, so watch out.
SCORE: 22/25
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Final verdict
This is a great whisky for the price tag. It has a clear character of its own. It's unpretentious, no-nonsense Campbeltown single malt. No gimmicks. No fancy packaging (just black and white).
TOTAL: 88/100
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