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Whisky Review: Kilkerran 12 Year Old

We review Kilkerran 12 Year Old, a buzzworthy single malt from one of Campbeltown's newest - and oldest - distilleries, the recently revived Glengyle.

OVERALL RATING

  • Joseph V. Micallef, historian and acclaimed author on wine and spirits.
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Kilkerran 12 Year Old

Tasting Notes

About:

46% ABV, a blend of 70% first fill ex-bourbon cask and 30% sherry cask aged whisky.
Appearance:
It has a warm, light gold color.
Nose:
On the nose there are dry honey notes with persistent floral aromas followed by hints of butterscotch, dry heather and some cereal/short bread elements. There is also just a hint of brine, like a warm summer sea breeze. With a little water some of the sherry inspired dried fruit notes become more noticeable.
Palate:
On the palate it has a creamy texture and a more substantial mouth feel than its appearance would suggest. There is pepper, but with a bit of sweetness, as in a sweet chili spread or a pepper infused marmalade, followed by slight citric notes and elements of cinnamon spice and vanilla. There are also hints of smoke and light medicinal notes. The finish is long, with a distinctive dry pepper capsaicin quality set against a slightly sweetish background note. The combination of vanilla notes and dry pepper give the whisky a bit of an old fashioned gingersnap character. Conclusion: This is an excellent whisky, combining nuance and complexity with a light, fragrant style. The peating levels of the malt used in this whisky are undoubtedly higher than the peating levels currently used. Peated malts that are distilled with lots of reflux are often notable for a dry, peppery quality. This style, very much in evidence here, leaves only faint traces of the medicinal/iodine/phenolic character of heavily peated malts. The smoke, while noticeable, is less pronounced and just sort of lingers in the background. This combination of sweetness and dry pepper, combined with a light, fragrant whisky, makes for an excellent aperitif and will also blend well in mixed drinks. The perfect whisky when you want a hint of Islay malt without being blown over. FINAL SCORE: 90/100
Finish:
Comments:

Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.

Joe Micallef

Joseph V. Micallef is a distinguished historian, best-selling author, keynote speaker, and commentator on wine and spirits. A member of the National Speakers Association, he has appeared on various broadcast platforms, including CNN, Fox News, and Fox News Radio, often sharing his expertise on the history of food, wine, and spirits.

Mr. Micallef holds the Diploma in Wine and Spirits and the Professional Certificate in Spirits (with Distinction) from the prestigious Wine and Spirits Education Trust (London). He is a certified wine judge for the California State Fair Wine Competition and serves as a judge for the International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC).  

His notable works include "Scotch Whisky: Its History, Production and Appreciation" (2015), with a new book, "The Whisky Isles," forthcoming.

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