Home Tasting: Kilchoman Official 100% Islay 5th Edition

The maturation has become quite pronounced. Kilchoman KILCHOMAN OB 100% Islay 2015 bottling 5TH EDITION 50% ・Aroma: Fresh citrus, young barley with a bread dough-like quality, tender green leaves, wax, vanilla and oak, honey, pickled vegetables or root vegetables, strong smoky peat notes, and briny sea breeze. ・Flavor: Mild entry that expands, less greenness than the aroma, fresh citrus and lemongrass, a rich barley character with some chewy umami depth, citrus acidity and strong saltiness, oak that deepens the flavor, a subtle dashi-like seafood stock and seaweed note, and intense smokiness. ・Aftertaste: Citrus and strong barley notes remain, along with peat, but surprisingly it doesn't linger long. ・Dilution: The aroma gains a more Semadain-like quality, while the grounded citrus and malt character remains unchanged. ・Overall Impression: While there's a slight greenness in the aroma, the fruit, malt, peat, and oak character are all clearly present. When drinking, it seems the dilution helps reduce the greenness further, with the fruit, malt, and peat elements blending harmoniously. Particularly in flavor, it's a well-balanced Islay malt that can be confidently appreciated as good quality. 【Good/Very Good】 The latest 2015 bottling of Kilchoman's 100% Islay series, the 5th Edition, has arrived at home. It's stated to be a vatting of bourbon casks from the 2009 and 2010 vintages, suggesting a maturation period of approximately 5 to 6 years. Following my recent experience where the Islay Festival sample from Kilchoman finally reached a level I could appreciate without reservations, and after deeply appreciating the quality of the Lowland floor-malted 100% Islay, I felt this Kilchoman was the perfect opportunity to purchase multiple bottles. Upon tasting, it's a satisfying experience that I'm glad I bought. The aroma carries notes of root vegetables and pickled items, with a slightly youthful barley character that hints at some greenness. However, there's also a sense of maturation, giving the impression that it's beginning to show its character compared to previous releases. When drinking, there's less greenness than the aroma and more depth. The citrusy and faintly peach-like fruitiness, a solid barley character, and the distinct Islay peatiness are all clearly present. Thanks to dilution, there's a cohesive balance without the disjointed impression. A straightforwardly delicious Islay malt with depth that meets expectations while remaining easy to drink. I intended to savor it slowly after opening, but it's surprisingly disappearing at a steady pace. (Laugh) #Kilchoman (KILCHOMAN)