The Still & The VineSchool of Wine & Spirits
Kilchoman Machir Bay
Scotch WhiskyIssue 22

Kilchoman Machir Bay

Kilchoman Distillery Co. (Independent) · Kilchoman Distillery, Rockside Farm, Islay

$6392 (46% ABV) proofNAS (vatting of bourbon and sherry cask matured whisky)Rockside Farm, Islay — where Anthony Wills built the first new distillery built on Islay since 1908, and one of only a handful of Scottish distilleries still malting barley on-site over traditional peat-fired kilns.
Kilchoman is what happens when someone decides to do everything the hard way — and gets it spectacularly right. Anthony Wills didn't just build a new distillery on Islay; he built one that grows its own barley, malts it over its own peat-fired kiln, and distills in tiny copper pot stills.

Kit Aromas

Tasting Notes

Nose

Peat smoke and sea spray, lemon zest, heather honey, vanilla fudge, with a floral sweetness rising through the smoke

Palate

Maritime peat balanced by orchard fruit, salted caramel, smoked honey, black pepper, and a rich creaminess from the sherry cask influence

Finish

Medium-long with lingering campfire smoke, sea salt, and a clean citrus brightness

Specifications
Distillation
Double distilled in copper pot stills
Maturation
Combination of first-fill bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks
Chill-Filtered
Non-chill filtered, natural color
Serve & Pair

Cocktail Suggestion

Cocktail — The Peat & Honey Highball: 2 oz Kilchoman Machir Bay · 0.5 oz honey syrup (1:1) · 4 oz chilled soda water · Lemon twist. Build over ice in a tall glass, stir gently twice.

Food Pairing

Pair with: Smoked salmon on dark rye bread with a squeeze of lemon — the smoke in both amplifies the maritime character.

Train These Aromas
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