Machir Bay (the name of the beach overlooked by the Kilchoman Church just half a mile from the distillery) is the flagship bottling of Kilchoman. It is a vatting of bourbon and sherry matured whisky, released every year since 2012.
Mind that this year they don’t seem to mention a bottling year nor any references to the age any more, perhaps because they’ll start having more than one batch a year soon? Based on previous editions, it should be 5 to 6 years old.
Kilchoman Machir Bay
(46%, OB 2015)
Kilchoman Machir BayNose: very sweet peat, lots of rummy sugarcane, vanilla biscuits and gummi bears. Very light tropical fruits in the background (pineapple). Marmalade and hints of chocolate. After a while the peat smoke, the saltiness and the medicinal touches stand out.
Mouth: surprisingly salty, with a big peaty blast and plenty of ashes. Laphroaig style, but young. It shows in the pear drops and sweet apricot. Sweet lemon syrup. Hints of toffee. Aniseed as well.
Finish: long, peaty, lemony. Maybe a light sherry influence as well (chocolate).
I’ve liked some of the limited editions better (especially the sherried ones: Sanaig, Loch Gorm…), but it’s certainly a fine core expression. Around € 47.
Score: 83/100