What is it?
Distillery: Glengyle, Campbeltown, Scotland
Name: Kilkerran 12 Year Old
Make: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Extra Info: Glengyle is the fourth whisky label to be owned and operated by J&A Mitchell and Co. along with Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn. The distillery is named after the original Glengyle distillery, founded in Campbeltown by William Mitchell in 1875 and operated until 1925. The name Kilkerran is used to distinguish the brand from the similarly named 'Glen Gyle' which is an established blended Highland malt scotch whisky and in reference to the Gaelic name of the original settlement where Campbeltown now stands.
Why did I buy it?
Every whisky I have tried from the Campbeltown region to date I have loved, so it was only natural for me to try the new kid on the block. It has taken a few months for the Kilkerran 12 Year Old to make it to the Australia market and a slew of positive reviews have caused it to be already sold out in many regions...So I bought two bottles. Needless to say, I was very excited to taste.
What did I think of it?
Presentation: Strikingly simple. Black text and graphics on a textured white background adorn both the packaging and clear glass bottle label.
Appearance: Bright gold, non-chill filtered with no added colouring and bottled at 46%.
I'm going to break from tradition here and discuss my tasting experience with the Kilkerran 12 Year Old. There are two main ways to drink whisky, critically where you attempt to systematically critique each aspect of the whisky and draw out as much information as you can; and non-critically, where you just sit back and enjoy the bloody thing. I am sitting here right now with barely a finger left in my first bottle of Kilkerran 12 Year Old and my tasting notes are still blank! I really want to explore the depths of this whisky but I keep giving up, putting my pen down and enjoying it instead. The following notes are taken against my will, I would have much preferred to just drink it.
I'm going to break from tradition here and discuss my tasting experience with the Kilkerran 12 Year Old. There are two main ways to drink whisky, critically where you attempt to systematically critique each aspect of the whisky and draw out as much information as you can; and non-critically, where you just sit back and enjoy the bloody thing. I am sitting here right now with barely a finger left in my first bottle of Kilkerran 12 Year Old and my tasting notes are still blank! I really want to explore the depths of this whisky but I keep giving up, putting my pen down and enjoying it instead. The following notes are taken against my will, I would have much preferred to just drink it.
Aroma: A generous fruit bowl with a banana just past its prime. Wet driftwood.
Flavour: A subtle smoky woodiness surprises since it does not smell smoky at all.
Finish: Long, spicy tingle with a mild warming deep in the chest and a pinch of salt on the aftertaste.
Would I buy it again?
Yes and I thought I might, hence why I bought two bottles to avoid being disappointed in the future. The Kilkerran 12 Year Old is a great whisky and another winner from Campbeltown. I know I will have to come back and revisit my notes when I open the second bottle but for this first taste of a brand new Campbeltown whisky, I was more than happy to just sit back and enjoy the bloody thing.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
Disclaimer: I do not claim to have the nose and palate of a Master Sommelier, however, I am working to train my senses to better identify whisky aromas and flavours. Consider all my whisky 'Impressions' to be a work in progress and I hope to come back to each of them in the future to see if I notice anything different. Most importantly, I'm not just throwing around random aromas, flavours and adjectives for the hell of it; I am trying really hard to critically describe each whisky I taste - WhiskyDad.
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