Single Malt Whisky, Scotland/Islay

When Kilchoman was founded, the Wills aspired to carry on the tradition of farm distilling on Islay. Kilchoman 100% Islay whiskies represent this return to tradition, being the only Single Farm Single Malt Scotch whiskies on Islay. To achieve this, Kilchoman grows its own barley before malting, distilling, ageing and bottling each of its 100% Islay editions, the only whisky on the island to be made entirely at the distillery. Sown each spring on the rich soils surrounding the distillery, the barley ripens over the summer months before being harvested in early autumn. It is then malted and peated at 20 ppm with peat from a field near the distillery, allowing the 100% Islay editions to be more delicately peated than the rest of the Kilchoman range. Exotic, original, delicate, nuanced… these are the adjectives that best describe the aromatic and taste palette of this deeply Islay version called Autonomy, which aptly reflects all the work put in by Anthony Wills on his family farm-distillery.

Nose : Delicate, subtle. Fleur de sel and grains of sand initially cover the olfactory palette. This evolves with class through vegetal (beet, endive, artichoke) and exotic (passion) tonalities. Increasingly marine (cuttlefish ink), mineral (slate) and smoky (Armenian paper), it becomes ever more elegant.

Palate : Tonic, nourished. With great purity of expression, the palate moves back and forth between fruity (nectarine, lychee), maritime (Guérande salt, oysters) and pastry (rum baba, peanut butter) Flavors. Aeration reveals mango flavours.

Overall : Both airy and warm. Initially ashy, the tasting returns to the marine (codfish back) and gourmet (cannelés) markers that accompanied the tasting. Then, pecan and root Flavors (ginger) create the perfect harmony.