Kilchoman Loch Gruinart /46%/ 0.7l

Kilchoman Distillery is named after a small settlement on the western side of the Isle of Islay.

It began in 2005 and was the first new distillery on Islay in 124 years. Demand for Kilchoman whisky has far outstripped supply since its launch, with an expansion completed in 2018 failing to meet demand; owner Anthony Wills is planning another in 2023, which will increase production capacity to 975,000 litres a year. Gruinart is a version of Kilchoman designed for distribution to supermarket chains, Auchan in France and Marks & Spencer in the UK. Little is known about the length of maturation, apart from the fact that it uses both American and European oak barrels. The name ‘Loch Gruinart’ comes from the Old Norse, meaning ‘shallow fjord’.

Nose: peat smoke and ash, sea water, barley malt, vanilla, golden syrup, apples, lychee, smoked ham and damp hay.

Palate: slightly alcoholic, salted caramel, vanilla, green apples, lemon peel, white pepper, a touch of licorice and peat smoke in the background.

Finish: medium long, malty, with notes of peat smoke, sea salt and pepper, lemon peel, apples, pears and oak.