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Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured Review

Can a full-term Maury wine cask elevate Islay peat—or overwhelm it with tannic, musty oak? This Kilchoman review finds out.

OVERALL RATING

7
$85
  • Mark Bostock, a whisky enthusiast specializing in independent bottlings.
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Tasting Notes

About:

A limited-edition single malt from Islay’s Kilchoman distillery, the first time the distillery has released a whisky which has had a full-term maturation in Maury fortified wine casks. Maury is a rich, sweet fortified wine originating from the Roussillon region in southern France, predominantly made from Grenache Noir grapes. Bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill filtered at natural colour.
Appearance:
Crimson
Nose:
Opens with a pronounced musty aroma of old books and slightly damp old wood, followed by an initially acidic vinegary note. Given time to breath aromas of dates, figs and ripe cherries accompanied by orange citrus, slightly vinous with oaky tannins.
Palate:
On the palate, the musty damp wood and bitter tannins return first. These give way to molasses and liquorice leading sour cherries and orange zest. There is underlying earthy peat throughout.
Finish:
A long finish, with drying oak tannins, flashes of dark and stewed fruits balanced by peat smoke.
Comments:
I’m a Kilchoman fan and have reviewed a number of releases for The Whiskey Wash previously, but I think this Maury Cask Matured expression is going to prove divisive amongst the distillery’s enthusiasts. I found those bitter oak tannins, mustiness, and damp wood notes to be very pronounced and at times overpowering. If given time to breath, this whisky does reveal some dark stone fruits and orange citrus balanced by earthy peat.

I received my sample of the Kilchoman Maury Cask from a friend who picked up similar notes to myself, but had also shared a sample with another whisky enthusiast who felt they’d experienced much sweeter notes. I’m not convinced by the full-term Maury cask maturation and feel this might have been better used as a finishing cask, but I can appreciate Kilchoman’s experimentation.

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.

Mark Bostock

Mark Bostock, an integral part of the Mark Littler LTD UK content writing team since 2019, brings a genuine passion for whisky, especially independent bottlings, to his work. His commitment to expanding his knowledge through attending tasting events and building his own collection enriches his contributions, blending expertise with enthusiasm.

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