Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood

Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood, NAS, 46 %

I cannot believe I have never reviewed any of the Kilkerran releases from Glengyle Distillery here before. What happened?! Maybe I was too pre-occupied with their much more famous neighbor, Springbank? Well, time to change that.

William Mitchell founded the original Glengyle distillery back in 1872, and subsequently sold it in 1919. In 1925 the distillery was closed down. Over 75 years later the great-great nephew of William Mitchell, bought the old buildings, which had been lying empty for several years, and made the re-opening of Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery in 2004 a reality. Glengyle Distillery is today one of only three whisky distilleries in Campbeltown.

So, here we have the latest sherry wood release. The Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood does not come with any age statement, but from what I can see online it was distilled in 2004 and bottled 2015, which makes it about 11 years old. Good enough for me.

The Kilkerran WIP 7 Sherry Wood is a limited release of about 12000 bottles. You can still buy it in Norway at NOK 750 (2873401), and online in the UK at around GBP 38.

Nose (22/25): Definitely a sherry nose, but not the heavy and massive type. There's a lot of berries here, red berries and even strawberries. There's also vanilla and green apples. A hint of leather, and a cool winter's morning. Very clean, although it gets a bit earthy and musty with time.

Taste (22/25): Honey with a bit of spices to add some fun. Pour this over green apples and some dried fruits, and you have the palate. Quite lovely! Again very clean.

Finish (21/25): Medium long finish. Picks up a bit more caramel and a bit of oak along the way, but otherwise remains true to the first impressions. Right at the end there is some burnt caramel, and something reminding me of peat smoke.

Balance (22/25): A wonderful dram. Clean and pure. I want more.

Score (87/100)

Image from Master of Malt.

Sláinte! - Thomas