Kilkerran 12 Year Old is the first core range product from the newest, old distillery in Campeltown (considering Glengyle was founded in 1872, closed down in 1925 and restarted in 2004 as a sister distillery of Springbank).
After a whole list of Work in Progress releases, it has now come to age – an eagerly awaited milestone bottling. Kilkerran 12 Years is lightly peated (12-15 ppm) and composed of a mixture of cask types: 70% matured in bourbon casks and 30% in sherry casks.
Kilkerran 12 yo
(46%, OB 2016)
Nose: slightly austere start, on dry heather, minerals, earthy and sooty notes. Light lemon and salt combo. At its centre is a big malty core, cereals and shortbread. The herbal side grows bigger, but at the same time it’s mellowed by faint vanilla and marzipan. Slightly green woody notes too.
Mouth: rather sweet and creamy. Biscuity notes, sweet lemon, a little cinnamon syrup. Then turning towards peaty notes and brine, with some dried herbs again. Whiffs of smoke. Some chalky touches.
Finish: long, with liquorice, lemon, oak and brine. Hints of butterscotch too.
An old-school dram for sure, although it provides enough rounder notes to balance its straightforward, unsexy side. A complex whisky that is well put together and available at a bargain price. Around € 50.
Score: 88/100