Kilchoman Family Collection 1st Edition 18 Years Old Ex-Bourbon Barrels 50%

Kilchoman Family Collection 1st Edition 18 Years is a rare and impressive Islay Single Malt. Here, Kilchoman’s characteristic peaty smoke is aged for a full 18 years in ex-bourbon barrels. The result is a mature whiskey with great depth, where smoke, citrus, sweetness, and oak blend together elegantly.

With 18 years in the cask, this is among some of Kilchoman’s oldest whiskies. The long maturation has rounded out the youthful vigor and created a more complex profile. At the same time, the fresh and smoky Kilchoman style remains clearly recognizable.

18 years in ex-bourbon barrels

The whiskey has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels, which allow the distillery’s own character to shine through. The bourbon barrels contribute notes of vanilla, honey, and caramel, along with ripe fruit and spicy oak.

After 18 years of aging, the peaty smoke has evolved and taken on a more rounded character. It harmonizes with sweet malt, citrus, and ripe fruit. The oak adds structure and spice without masking Kilchoman’s characteristic Islay profile.

The whisky is bottled at 50%, which provides lovely intensity and body. It is a complex Kilchoman that deserves plenty of time in the glass so that the many layers of fruit, smoke, and cask can unfold.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Ripe and elegant with soft peat smoke, vanilla, and honey. Citrus and ripe fruit emerge alongside caramel, sweet malt, and delicately spiced oak.

Palate: Full-bodied and complex with vanilla, honey, and ripe fruit. Citrus adds freshness, while caramel and sweet malt create a rounded sweetness. Peaty smoke, pepper, and oak provide depth and structure.

Finish: Long and elegant with lingering peat smoke, vanilla, and spiced oak. Fruit and citrus linger alongside a light maritime character and a pleasant warmth.

Kilchoman Family Collection

The Kilchoman Family Collection is crafted from specially selected casks from the distillery’s warehouses on Islay. The first release consists of four whiskies aged 11, 14, 18, and 20 years, respectively. The series offers a unique opportunity to follow Kilchoman’s evolution through extended cask aging.

The 18-year-old release is particularly interesting because it demonstrates the effect of nearly two decades of aging on Kilchoman’s smoky distillate. The ex-bourbon casks allow the distillery’s character to shine through, while the age adds greater depth, elegance, and complexity.

Kilchoman Distillery – the family-owned distillery on Islay

Kilchoman Distillery was founded by Anthony Wills in 2005 at Rockside Farm on Islay. The goal was to revive the tradition of small farm distilleries and create whisky with a strong connection to the island and traditional craftsmanship.

Kilchoman is still run by the Wills family. Since its inception, the distillery has evolved into one of the most recognized independent distilleries on Islay. The older bottlings also mark a new chapter in Kilchoman’s history.

The Family Collection 18 Years Old demonstrates just how elegantly Kilchoman’s whisky can evolve over time. The combination of long bourbon cask aging, ripe fruit, and rounded Islay smoke makes this bottling something special for both Kilchoman enthusiasts and collectors.

• Country: Scotland
• Region: Islay
• Producer: Kilchoman Distillery
• Series: Family Collection 1st Edition
• Type: Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky
• Age: 18 years
• Cask Type: Ex-bourbon barrels
• Volume: 70 cl
• Alcohol: 50%