I'm thinking about a bottle of this, but I was wondering - is this worth buying, not as a curiosity or because it's the first new Islay in a century, etc., but does the taste of the scotch make it worth buying. Or should I get as Laphroig and let this age a few more years?
I think I need to stop visiting the local store near my home because I'm going to go broke after all the single casks the manager purchased on his visit to Scotland. Besides the Springbanks and Glendronach I've mentioned before, he also purchased a single cask of five year old Kilchoman ($92 a bottle BTW). And you're not helping Ralfy with your review of the three year old.
Just bought my first Kilchoman, the Spring 2011 release. In my mind it is very similar to Laphroaig in style, particularly the Quarter Cask. Not as sweet, perhaps that is the primary influence of the smaller barrels.
I wish I had bought more than one bottle when it was still in stock at the LCBO (where those of in Ontario, Canada have to buy our Whisky). At $35 it was an absolute steal. I hope they get new stock soon. It's been almost a year since I've seen a bottle on the shelf.
Ralfy, I have very much enjoyed your style of reviews. I've fallen in love with scotch whiskey and have yet to take a sip, all credit goes to you. For a beginner what would you suggest for a first purchase?
Just reading what you're saying about terroir, I was taken aback when the Bruichladdich people said that only 20% of their grain comes from Islay, the rest comes from Inverness apparently - so this should help us to appreciate something like Kilchoman even more.
It is so nice to see that you hail and appreciate this Whisky by ... drinking it! You cannae take the whisky or money with you to the grave...at least they don`t make any difference anymore.
"...this norse..., is gunna keep me engrossed for quite a wile I can tell..." Love the Scottish accent and they way he speaks- lovely! I want to be Scottish as it is my second favourite country )after England of course?)
Being from the most Scottish part of the new world, it seems we Nova Scotians never really appreciated Scotch Whisky either which is unfortunate. There seems to be a recent interest in it now however. I know a few friends and family members who seem to know their stuff. Now that we have our very own distillery things seem likely to turn around.
Also, the consensus was that distillery character in terms of the finished product had more to do with still shape, still management, fermentation procedures, cask types and dunnage conditions than the area where the barley was grown or the variey used. Water characteristics were felt to sometimes have an influence, but not much.
local coopered casks of quality oak, Distillery's Dunnage maturation,
Bottling in Scotland,
and generally following traditional production sympathetic to customers desire for quality, ... which is why we pay a lot for Malts.
Non-terroir is imported cheap grain, industrial maltings, over-worked Stills, poor casks and Industrial storage all to cut costs and quality, ...for profit.
Sounds good to me! That's one of the reasons why I have great hopes for our local whisky when it hits 3 years of age - a lot of the malt used by the big brands in Scotland was grown and malted in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and (being a railway enthusiast) I know that traffic flows of blue-coloured hopper wagons called Distillers'' Blues, often with branded nameboards on the side, plied up the East Coast Main Line during the 1970s and 1980s carrying East Anglian malt.
Ralf - when you refer to "terroir", what are you referring to in the case of whisky? I've read some debate about the use of that term in relation to single mal, and no two people seem to be able to agree on what it means!
terroir, ... French, meaning 'of the soil' this word refers to the providence of specific location determining the finer intrinsic quality of the product of that location.
Mainly used in relation to wine, the term is increasingly relevant to Whisky as 'Brand Malts' like Talisker are matured in Blackgrange (not Skye !) and 'Craft Malts' like Springbank retain every feature of production specificaly in Campbeltown.
Sorry Ralf, I didn't frame my question very well. As an ex-French student, I'm aware of the wine use of the word, but the debate seemed to focus on the idea that whisky is less closely related to the growing conditions of the barley than wine is to those conditions of the grapes; also that barley may be less affected by soil, climate etc. than grapes.
Nice review Ralf. It seems very promising for the future Kilchoman bottlings. 3 year old, this is still a baby, I'll wait when it becomes a big child (say at least 8y.o.) to get one.
You got quite poetic at the end there, Ralf! Sounds like an Islay I might like - my only previous Islay was Bowmore Legend which put me right off - TCP was all I could detect in it.
Thank god for craft distilleries! I bought a bottle of the 2011 spring release, what a delightful dram it is, very refreshing in deed
pbeng12 3 weeks ago
I'm thinking about a bottle of this, but I was wondering - is this worth buying, not as a curiosity or because it's the first new Islay in a century, etc., but does the taste of the scotch make it worth buying. Or should I get as Laphroig and let this age a few more years?
degmar 1 month ago
@degmar
always worth the drinking and will get even better over the next few years with age !
Try Bunnahabhain 12yo @ 46%
ralfystuff 1 month ago
Amazing review. Just amazing.
FTingB 2 months ago 2
I think I need to stop visiting the local store near my home because I'm going to go broke after all the single casks the manager purchased on his visit to Scotland. Besides the Springbanks and Glendronach I've mentioned before, he also purchased a single cask of five year old Kilchoman ($92 a bottle BTW). And you're not helping Ralfy with your review of the three year old.
shuboy05 3 months ago
I'm sure Kilchoman has been waiting just as eagerly for their ralfy review :)
samm1809 4 months ago
Just bought my first Kilchoman, the Spring 2011 release. In my mind it is very similar to Laphroaig in style, particularly the Quarter Cask. Not as sweet, perhaps that is the primary influence of the smaller barrels.
kidsafe 6 months ago
I wish I had bought more than one bottle when it was still in stock at the LCBO (where those of in Ontario, Canada have to buy our Whisky). At $35 it was an absolute steal. I hope they get new stock soon. It's been almost a year since I've seen a bottle on the shelf.
FairAtBest 8 months ago
@FairAtBest
demand way out-strips supply.
ralfystuff 8 months ago
Ralfy, I have very much enjoyed your style of reviews. I've fallen in love with scotch whiskey and have yet to take a sip, all credit goes to you. For a beginner what would you suggest for a first purchase?
Thank you for your magnificent videos.
R34n1mated 1 year ago
@R34n1mated
Glenfiddich 12 yo, ... a kind and gentle character. then go treasure hunting !!!
I suggest you try out as much as you can and get to know your preference, thereafter, finding the Whisky is easy.
ralfystuff 1 year ago
@R34n1mated
... thanks dood !
first time ? ... Glenfiddich 12yo
ralfystuff 1 year ago
Just reading what you're saying about terroir, I was taken aback when the Bruichladdich people said that only 20% of their grain comes from Islay, the rest comes from Inverness apparently - so this should help us to appreciate something like Kilchoman even more.
chrish12345 1 year ago
It is so nice to see that you hail and appreciate this Whisky by ... drinking it! You cannae take the whisky or money with you to the grave...at least they don`t make any difference anymore.
NagareboshiFin 2 years ago
"...this norse..., is gunna keep me engrossed for quite a wile I can tell..." Love the Scottish accent and they way he speaks- lovely! I want to be Scottish as it is my second favourite country )after England of course?)
thegreatbasher 2 years ago
Being from the most Scottish part of the new world, it seems we Nova Scotians never really appreciated Scotch Whisky either which is unfortunate. There seems to be a recent interest in it now however. I know a few friends and family members who seem to know their stuff. Now that we have our very own distillery things seem likely to turn around.
krakkajackson 2 years ago
... and many in Scotland look forward to a new generation of Canadian Malts, which offer choice, range and character.
Glen Ora has great potential.
ralfystuff 2 years ago
I cant wait for this to come to the USA.
Tantrum777 2 years ago
Cont'd
Also, the consensus was that distillery character in terms of the finished product had more to do with still shape, still management, fermentation procedures, cask types and dunnage conditions than the area where the barley was grown or the variey used. Water characteristics were felt to sometimes have an influence, but not much.
w0033944 2 years ago
... with Scotch a good Terroir includes
Local Grain (from Scotland)
Local traditional malting,
Slow distillation,
local coopered casks of quality oak, Distillery's Dunnage maturation,
Bottling in Scotland,
and generally following traditional production sympathetic to customers desire for quality, ... which is why we pay a lot for Malts.
Non-terroir is imported cheap grain, industrial maltings, over-worked Stills, poor casks and Industrial storage all to cut costs and quality, ...for profit.
ralfystuff 2 years ago
Sounds good to me! That's one of the reasons why I have great hopes for our local whisky when it hits 3 years of age - a lot of the malt used by the big brands in Scotland was grown and malted in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire and (being a railway enthusiast) I know that traffic flows of blue-coloured hopper wagons called Distillers'' Blues, often with branded nameboards on the side, plied up the East Coast Main Line during the 1970s and 1980s carrying East Anglian malt.
w0033944 2 years ago
... St George's Distillery !
I will review 'Chapter 4' (peated) sometime soon !
... and having tasted a drop,
... it will be a very positive review !!!
ralfystuff 2 years ago
Indeed, as you told me in PM. I look forward to your comments.
w0033944 2 years ago
Ralf - when you refer to "terroir", what are you referring to in the case of whisky? I've read some debate about the use of that term in relation to single mal, and no two people seem to be able to agree on what it means!
w0033944 2 years ago
terroir, ... French, meaning 'of the soil' this word refers to the providence of specific location determining the finer intrinsic quality of the product of that location.
Mainly used in relation to wine, the term is increasingly relevant to Whisky as 'Brand Malts' like Talisker are matured in Blackgrange (not Skye !) and 'Craft Malts' like Springbank retain every feature of production specificaly in Campbeltown.
.... hope this helps.
ralfystuff 2 years ago
Sorry Ralf, I didn't frame my question very well. As an ex-French student, I'm aware of the wine use of the word, but the debate seemed to focus on the idea that whisky is less closely related to the growing conditions of the barley than wine is to those conditions of the grapes; also that barley may be less affected by soil, climate etc. than grapes.
w0033944 2 years ago
Beautifull and honest as usual Ralf. Great review.
leestephenj 2 years ago 8
great review as usual.
have you ever thought about reviewing a bourbon, or some other american whiskey? or a canadian probably`?
rofllol12 2 years ago 4
Nice review Ralf. It seems very promising for the future Kilchoman bottlings. 3 year old, this is still a baby, I'll wait when it becomes a big child (say at least 8y.o.) to get one.
dirladas 2 years ago 2
i wonder how many non chilfiltered and no color and cask streng whisky are out there?
seriomisterios 2 years ago
HEY RALF ..HOW MUCH DOES A BOTTLE COST? IN U.S DOLLARS.....ballpark figure
alldayubum 2 years ago
$60-65 I guess...
... due to being a 'first' from this Distillery.
ralfystuff 2 years ago
Hahaha, I squirreled one! I think I'm going to let mine rest permanently and await the next bottling. Thx for tasting for us Ralfy!
NickLightingale 2 years ago
you say in the video that its number 75 but the title says 76 :O
BrYaNcUrRaN72 2 years ago
... yeh !
.... I got confused in all the excitement of this lovely Whisky.
.... IITIS REVIEW 76
ralfystuff 2 years ago
great post ralfy. i love your feed.
waiting to taste that kilchoman.
galg33 2 years ago
You got quite poetic at the end there, Ralf! Sounds like an Islay I might like - my only previous Islay was Bowmore Legend which put me right off - TCP was all I could detect in it.
w0033944 2 years ago