A very belated post, since the bottle is now empty. Oops. This is the first release of the 12. Not sure if there's significant batch variation, but I guess a first release is always a landmark.
Kilkerran 12 (abv 46%)
Colour - gold
Nose - There's a soft mossy peat on this that is immediately apparent, which reminds me of more mature Longrows. Vanilla floats to the top, and there's a distinctive maltiness to the nose too. Slightly yeasty, if you strain to find it. Then very fruity - passion fruit and pineapple.
Palate - A little smoke. The wood isn't very apparent, but it is there. An oaky backbone, if you will. As all whiskies should. Spicy, on cloves and nutmeg. The sherry wood influence isn't very strong, though you can detect a pomegranate-like tartness. That's very well-balanced by the sweeter side, with vanilla coming back, and quite a lot of honey. Then there's the malty side returning too - oatmeal cookies and a traditional Hainanese bakery.
Finish - Malty and oaky, with a strong honey comeback. Some ginger and herbs. Not too long, but that's about right for a 12 year old.
Overall - As widely-anticipated, and now widely confirmed, this is good. Amen.
Showing posts with label Kilkerran. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kilkerran. Show all posts
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Monday, October 3, 2016
Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood - waiting for the 12 to land
As far as I can tell, Kilkerran 12 has yet to land in Singapore. However, several places have a couple of bottles of the Work-in-Progress releases. Having tried the first WIP at Auld Alliance a couple of weeks ago, I managed to try the WIP 7 at Quaich Bar's new outlet at South Beach. It's a swanky bar - great interior decor, nice ambiance, an updated and comprehensive menu of original bottlings, and waiting staff who know their products. Quaich is also the sole official importer of Springbank in Singapore, which means that most of our access to Springbank, Longrow, Hazelburn, Kilkerran and all of Cadenhead is mediated through Quaich, and the guys at Quaich know the value of a holding a monopoly, unfortunately.
According the the bar manager (I think), Kilkerran 12 is making its way to Singapore. In the meantime, I shall make do with the WIPs. Today, we're having number 7, which is a sherried expression.
Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood (abv 46%)
Nose - Smells very oily, with mineral notes that remind me of fresh river water and the wet rocks at the bottom of said river. Sherry influence isn't strong here - comes across more as hints of cranberries and leather, so not a full, bright, fruity sherry. A little musty and sharp at the same time. Dusty mustard?!? Some more citrus fruits/berries, though I'm not sure what...maybe cherries? A whiff of oak, some vanilla, and light wisp of smoke.
Palate - What I noticed first was the oily profile, then the consistency of the minerals on the nose, like clean spring water. Then the peat hits, carrying with it a more metallic edge. Not so much like mustard anymore. Cherries - both sweet and sour. With some time on the tongue, oak starts to feel a bit, but that's balanced off by a growing leather/sulphur touch, which is nice to find in a sherried whisky. The peat takes a backseat, serving as the backdrop to the citrus, oak and leather. This is very finely balanced! The alcohol starts to show a bit more if you leave the whisky on your tongue for too long. Taste carefully, but don't take too long to swallow this one.
Finish - Fairly long on smoke/peat and tannin with some bursts of spices (pepper and nutmeg) and mellowed by a lingering leathery touch. Still manages to feel oily.
Overall - Yet another winner from the new weapon in Springbank's armoury. Amazing. How do they churn out such great stuff at Campbeltown? I really can't wait to get my hands on a bottle of the official Kilkerran 12 (and I hope and pray that the prices won't be too high).
According the the bar manager (I think), Kilkerran 12 is making its way to Singapore. In the meantime, I shall make do with the WIPs. Today, we're having number 7, which is a sherried expression.
Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood (abv 46%)
Nose - Smells very oily, with mineral notes that remind me of fresh river water and the wet rocks at the bottom of said river. Sherry influence isn't strong here - comes across more as hints of cranberries and leather, so not a full, bright, fruity sherry. A little musty and sharp at the same time. Dusty mustard?!? Some more citrus fruits/berries, though I'm not sure what...maybe cherries? A whiff of oak, some vanilla, and light wisp of smoke.
Palate - What I noticed first was the oily profile, then the consistency of the minerals on the nose, like clean spring water. Then the peat hits, carrying with it a more metallic edge. Not so much like mustard anymore. Cherries - both sweet and sour. With some time on the tongue, oak starts to feel a bit, but that's balanced off by a growing leather/sulphur touch, which is nice to find in a sherried whisky. The peat takes a backseat, serving as the backdrop to the citrus, oak and leather. This is very finely balanced! The alcohol starts to show a bit more if you leave the whisky on your tongue for too long. Taste carefully, but don't take too long to swallow this one.
Finish - Fairly long on smoke/peat and tannin with some bursts of spices (pepper and nutmeg) and mellowed by a lingering leathery touch. Still manages to feel oily.
Overall - Yet another winner from the new weapon in Springbank's armoury. Amazing. How do they churn out such great stuff at Campbeltown? I really can't wait to get my hands on a bottle of the official Kilkerran 12 (and I hope and pray that the prices won't be too high).
Friday, September 16, 2016
Long weeks and long maturations (Ben Nevis and Kilkerran)
This week has been a long and tiring week, with deadlines, chasing people for deadlines, and then worrying about the quality of work that was rushed out due to impending deadlines. Oh gosh. A long week deserves a long drink, and preferably one with a long(ish) maturation period. I guess the usual industry standard for "old" whisky is something above 18 years? Or thereabouts?
Serendipitously, Auld Alliance made a big announcement on FB about their updated menu! New items added, more tasting sets, and more independent bottlings by The Auld Alliance. The stars of the unveiling were a 32 year Port Ellen, a 27 year old Irish whisky of undisclosed origins, and a 19 year old Ben Nevis.
So, off I went on my own to Auld Alliance for some happy alone time!
Ben Nevis 19 year old, bottled for the Auld Alliance and Three Rivers (50.2% abv)
I believe Three Rivers is a friend of the Auld Alliance bar in Japan. They do these split cask arrangements with Auld Alliance once in a while, I believe. This bottle was matured in a sherry butt for 19 years, though it said 20 on the menu.
Colour - Close to amber, and this bottle says that the whisky has not had colouring added. Nice colour!
Nose - Sherried, definitely. Blackcurrants, liquorice, oak. Slightly sour, like strawberry-sour. The sour strawberries you often get from Singapore supermarkets. Smells oily and fat. After a while, freshly plucked mint leaves, coriander and parsley. Vanilla floats up after a while.
Palate - Slightly salty on entry, and fairly obvious oak. Light sprinkling of spice - cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, the usual suspects. Slightly rubbery, with tea tannins giving it a drying feel. Some light peat, punctuated with bursts of fresh fruit - berries and one lemon. Incidentally, I read that lemons are not naturally occurring fruits, but the result of humans cross-breeding several fruits. Boom. Mind blown. When life does not give you lemons, go engineer them yourself. Burnt sugar, and with time in the glass, a lot of honey comes to the fore. Nice development!
Finish - A slight suggestion of machine oil. Spices remain, with some smoke. The whisky coats the mouth well, so there's some sweet sherry leftover around the mouth. Tea, a little bitter, and, at the end, crayons.
Overall - I like this style! Not typically highlands a la Highland Park or Oban, but good still. I like the fatty/oily feel and the complexity of development. Reminded me a bit of Springbank. But since I've already tried the affordable Springbanks on the menu...
Kilkerran WIP First Release (46% abv)
Really excited about this. I hope I get to buy a bottle of the Kilkerran 12. Preferably not from an overpriced bar/retailer...
Colour - White wine. This is pale, and rather young (about 4 to 5 years in bourbon cask)
Nose - Big on machine oil and a very strong metallic touch. Yet at the same time, still smelling fat and reminds me a bit of freshly de-shelled crustaceans. Slight peat and smoke, some tobacco, and juicy grapefruit/pomelo. Since it's the Mid-Autumn festival, pomelo it shall be.
Palate - Oh, rather different from the nose! Surprise! Coconut and oak, light honey, and some vanilla. Transits to minerals like wet rocks, silica-rich sand. Texture is smooth and creamy. Alcohol is quite unnoticeable, which is impressive for something so young. The mineral quality of the spirit really shines in this young make, and I expect age and wood would work wonders on it.
Finish - spicy and smokey. I'm getting some ginger-linger (such similar spelling but different pronunciation!) Drying, with suggestions of smoked, salted fish. Minerals again with a little bit of sea spray. Fairly short finish, but this is a good demonstration of distillery distinctives.
Overall - I'm impressed with the Kilkerran, and I think anyone who likes Springbank will like this too. This was just the first WIP too! Wish I had easy access to all the other Kilkerrans, and Springbank. But alas, there is one bar that is the sole distributor of Springbank in Singapore (and thus also having sole distributor rights to Springbank's other distilleries Hazelburn, Longrow, Kilkerran, and Cadenhead), and we all know what happens in a monopoly. Springbank 18 for $280 is steep. Springbank 13 Green for $300 is downright prohibitive.
One can hope, eh?
Serendipitously, Auld Alliance made a big announcement on FB about their updated menu! New items added, more tasting sets, and more independent bottlings by The Auld Alliance. The stars of the unveiling were a 32 year Port Ellen, a 27 year old Irish whisky of undisclosed origins, and a 19 year old Ben Nevis.
So, off I went on my own to Auld Alliance for some happy alone time!
Ben Nevis 19 year old, bottled for the Auld Alliance and Three Rivers (50.2% abv)
 |
| Oh look! An owl! |
Colour - Close to amber, and this bottle says that the whisky has not had colouring added. Nice colour!
Nose - Sherried, definitely. Blackcurrants, liquorice, oak. Slightly sour, like strawberry-sour. The sour strawberries you often get from Singapore supermarkets. Smells oily and fat. After a while, freshly plucked mint leaves, coriander and parsley. Vanilla floats up after a while.
Palate - Slightly salty on entry, and fairly obvious oak. Light sprinkling of spice - cinnamon, nutmeg, pepper, the usual suspects. Slightly rubbery, with tea tannins giving it a drying feel. Some light peat, punctuated with bursts of fresh fruit - berries and one lemon. Incidentally, I read that lemons are not naturally occurring fruits, but the result of humans cross-breeding several fruits. Boom. Mind blown. When life does not give you lemons, go engineer them yourself. Burnt sugar, and with time in the glass, a lot of honey comes to the fore. Nice development!
Finish - A slight suggestion of machine oil. Spices remain, with some smoke. The whisky coats the mouth well, so there's some sweet sherry leftover around the mouth. Tea, a little bitter, and, at the end, crayons.
Overall - I like this style! Not typically highlands a la Highland Park or Oban, but good still. I like the fatty/oily feel and the complexity of development. Reminded me a bit of Springbank. But since I've already tried the affordable Springbanks on the menu...
Kilkerran WIP First Release (46% abv)
Really excited about this. I hope I get to buy a bottle of the Kilkerran 12. Preferably not from an overpriced bar/retailer...
Colour - White wine. This is pale, and rather young (about 4 to 5 years in bourbon cask)
Nose - Big on machine oil and a very strong metallic touch. Yet at the same time, still smelling fat and reminds me a bit of freshly de-shelled crustaceans. Slight peat and smoke, some tobacco, and juicy grapefruit/pomelo. Since it's the Mid-Autumn festival, pomelo it shall be.
Palate - Oh, rather different from the nose! Surprise! Coconut and oak, light honey, and some vanilla. Transits to minerals like wet rocks, silica-rich sand. Texture is smooth and creamy. Alcohol is quite unnoticeable, which is impressive for something so young. The mineral quality of the spirit really shines in this young make, and I expect age and wood would work wonders on it.
Finish - spicy and smokey. I'm getting some ginger-linger (such similar spelling but different pronunciation!) Drying, with suggestions of smoked, salted fish. Minerals again with a little bit of sea spray. Fairly short finish, but this is a good demonstration of distillery distinctives.
Overall - I'm impressed with the Kilkerran, and I think anyone who likes Springbank will like this too. This was just the first WIP too! Wish I had easy access to all the other Kilkerrans, and Springbank. But alas, there is one bar that is the sole distributor of Springbank in Singapore (and thus also having sole distributor rights to Springbank's other distilleries Hazelburn, Longrow, Kilkerran, and Cadenhead), and we all know what happens in a monopoly. Springbank 18 for $280 is steep. Springbank 13 Green for $300 is downright prohibitive.
One can hope, eh?
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