Kilchoman Bourbon Matured 10 Years Single Cask Whisky (1x70cl)

Three things are stated on this label and each one tells you something. Ten years old. Bourbon matured, which usually means vanilla and citrus rather than the dried fruit you get from sherry casks. And single cask — every bottle came out of one barrel, with no blending across casks to even things out.

Islay malts are usually peated, and here the peat is sitting on the brighter, cleaner bourbon-cask side rather than a sweet, dark one. One for the friend who reads the back label before they pour.

Tasting notes

Bourbon-cask Islay malt usually shows vanilla, lemon and cereal sweetness with smoke running through it, and a dry, mineral finish. Drink it neat, then a drop or two of water; single-cask bottlings often shift more than you expect.