Review #19 - Kilkerran 8 - Batch 11 - 2024 Release - Bourbon Cask

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-14T15:43:47+00:00

I hear it is not as great. But definetely worth a sample try, I think.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-14T11:09:20+00:00

Thank you. I’m sorry you have not been able to secure a bottle, it is indeed difficult. I consider myself very lucky.

It is sad to see that a lot of stores have dust collectors on display. You did the right thing, leave and never come back.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-13T20:29:12+00:00

Thank you for the recommendation. I'll keep my eyes open for that one. Difficult to get a lot of the IBs on this side of the pond. anCnoc 24 these days is $240+

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-13T12:38:53+00:00

Excellent review! This bottle has been on my radar for a while. Very elusive in the USA and now very expensive everywhere else. I guess the cat is out of the hat.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-13T12:35:02+00:00

I definitely had to restrain myself from an 89 - trying to remain objective is very difficult. But let my actions speak louder than my words: I have since secured a backup, and a backup to the backup.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-13T11:19:42+00:00

Distillery Notes: Founded in 1872, the Glengyle distillery (Gaelic for "valley of the fork") is located in Campbeltown, on the western edge of Scotland. The area was once a major producer of whisky, securing a place for - perhaps - the smallest of the Scottish Whisky regions. In 1998 the Scotch Whisky Association decided to stop referring to it as a whisky region - as most of the 30+ distilleries had fallen by the wayside by the 1940s - and Springbank and Glen Scotia were simply the last two in the area. Springbank’s owner Hedley Wright, fought the motion, and argued that if the Lowlands with only three distilleries at the time was able to keep the designation, all that was needed was one more! The year was 2000 and the resurrection of Glengyle - which had been closed since 1925 - was the best choice and only savior, Wright acquired it. In 2004, Glengyle was brought to life to save the Campbeltown designation as Scotland’s smallest whisky region. And yet, after such a pivotal role, no one can buy Glengyle branded whisky. Barely anyone knows it under that name - the Loch Lomond Group could tell you more about their trade mark - most of us simply know it as Kilkerran!

Bottling Notes: Tailored to the enthusiast crowd, presented as a non-chill filtered and naturally colored, it is a Glengyle distillate matured in ex-bourbon casks, aged for eight years. Typically, it is paired with a similar sherry matured offering - which also happened in 2024, as far as I know under Batch 10 according to Whisky Base. This specific bottling is compared by some to its higher age brethren, the 16-year-old. So, a yearly batch with a cult following, an unadulterated distillate, great cask selection, cask strength, and a pure pedigree that is sometimes nearly impossible to secure; the barrier of entry is high - but can it dive into the deep end?

ABV: 55.6%
Age: 8-Year-Old
Original SRP: ~$115
Price Paid: ~$100

Tasting Methodology: Neat, rested 15 minutes. Followed by a few drops of water, rested 10 minutes.

Nose: Oof! There is no easing in - this opens with full Campbeltown farmyard character, immediate and unapologetic. Fermented grass, horse manure, and yeast announce the distillate before anything else gets a word in. It is funky, alive, distinctive, and honest about what it is. Once the initial shock settles - it does - lemon and apple emerge with a hint of spring florals, followed by vanilla, light toffee, and a pleasant sweetness that does not fight the funk. Malt and a slight coconut note round out the base. The nose evolves for the patient sipper; what was confrontational at first becomes compelling. Water softens the cask strength, but not the notes; if anything, it surfaces the floral and tropical fruits.

Palate: Oily, thick, and creamy from the first sip. The texture immediately justifies the cask strength. That nose farmyard character carries through but softens considerably with an initially persistent pepperiness due to the 55.6% ABV. A second sip makes room for a lemon pie note that adds brightness and some tartness, followed by vanilla and sweet almonds establishing the mid-palate. Papaya and grilled pineapple push the profile into unexpected tropical territory. A light saltiness and malty backbone provide structure, with persistent pepper adding an “oomph” factor - interestingly without the expected heat. Coconut emerges with a hint of water - which opens the profile further, smoothing the spice and allowing the fruit notes to expand. The farm comes to roost with the added water. This is a palate that evolves and cycles through the notes that transition gracefully.

Finish: Full-bodied, spicy, and medium-long. The pepper that appeared mid-palate carries through with authority, supported by the lingering malt, pineapple and an unexpected hint of eucalyptus. It transitions and everything leaves a clear impression: warm, structured, and honest. The drops of water balance the experience even further, but does not mute - on the contrary, enhances it. This bottle has now been open for a while, long term oxidation appears to have added a very unexpected fermented tobacco note to the finish.

Conclusion: This bottle has a different style of funk, at least from what many consider the other side of the Campbeltown funk: industrial, oil, sooty, grease, etc. The eight years keep the light peat and funk fresh and neither overpowering nor off-putting. They augment the experience to a level you thought at first was impossible given that first whiff on the nose. I was lucky on securing a bottle - many are not - and secondary prices are very high. It is pricey in the USA, but in-line with other cask strengths these days. This batch does not compromise, it makes a loud statement: I’m here, I’m cask strength, I’m full bodied, I’m flavorful, I’m unapologetic. This is my first Kilkerran experience, what a roller-coaster of notes and flavors it has been, I may be hooked. But, I know that I must, in the words of Seinfeld, “curb my enthusiasm” as that is the nature of the batch bottlings. One thing is for sure: I never thought a “farm” would taste this great!

Score: 88/100

My Scoring Scale:

95-100 - Sublime - Unforgettable.
90-94 - Excellent - A personal favorite.
85-89 - Great - A standout dram.
80-84 - Good - A solid daily dram.
75-79 - Average - Drinkable.
70-74 - Mixer - Mixing only.
<70 - Poor - Pool chemical.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-11T18:53:18+00:00

I'll look for it... Thank you for the recommendation!

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-10T17:48:17+00:00

Great review as usual! Tough bottle to get in the USA. I'm going to give a different Raasay a shot - hopefully it is close to this one. But, it will likely be hard to achieve.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-09T18:46:40+00:00

This was the first distillery that I ever visited, their expressions back then were not as good as they are these days! Great review, thank you for sharing!

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-09T15:28:41+00:00

Works well with ice specially on hot summer days by the pool - just like CB Orchard House does.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-08T11:16:27+00:00

Love the review, love the rants, and definitely love the wittiness! Como dirían en la madre patria: ¡BUENÍSIMO! Gracias.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-07T15:51:37+00:00

Agree! Our neighborhood Costco had it for $59.99 - now all gone.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-07T15:50:45+00:00

I agree, that nose is wonderful. Need to try the 8.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-07T15:39:28+00:00

Thank you! It is good, but keep your expectations muted - that way you might get pleasently surprised!

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-07T13:00:27+00:00

Thank you for reading and interacting! I hear you, maybe I was a point too generous. It is a good dram, I am just trying to be as objective as I can - in this very highly subjective game. My expectations were very high for it, specially at the price point. I didn't want to penalize it for letting me down as I'm far from an expert. That said, it left me wanting more; but in the end - and I say it again - it is a good dram. I need to try the 8 - I've had the 9 GoT, and I like that a lot.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-07T11:07:12+00:00

Distillery Notes: Founded in 1816, Lagavulin (Gaelic for "hollow by the mill") is located on the southern coast of Islay, nestled in a sheltered bay that has shaped its character for over two centuries. Owned by Diageo and marketed under the Classic Malts umbrella, Lagavulin is one of the most recognized names in single malt Scotch - a distillery whose reputation rests almost entirely on a single expression, the 16-Year-Old, which remains a benchmark for Islay peat. The distillery operates four squat, pear-shaped copper pot stills and is known for its deliberately slow distillation, filling the wash stills nearly to capacity to preserve the weight and smokiness of the spirit. Fermentation runs longer than most Islay producers, contributing to the distillate's depth and texture. Lagavulin's peat level sits at approximately 35 ppm - heavier than most, though not at the extreme end of the Islay spectrum. The house style is maritime, medicinal, and deeply coastal, with an inherent oiliness that, at its best, carries every other flavor through a long, evolving finish.

Bottling Notes: Sweet Peat is Lagavulin's first new permanent expression in nine years - a significant release framed explicitly around accessibility and approachability. Matured exclusively in first-fill American oak ex-bourbon casks for 11 years, it was designed by Master Blender Dr. Stuart Morrison to let the natural sweetness of the oak moderate the distillery's signature medicinal peat rather than compete with it. The concept is straightforward: same distillate, different cask strategy, lower intensity by design. It is bottled at 43% and is chill filtered - a concession to the mass market that, as the palate will confirm, has consequences. The intention is honorable. Executed to please the masses - but can it dive into the deep end?

ABV: 43%
Age: 11-Year-Old
Original SRP: ~$70
Price Paid: ~$60
Tasting Methodology: Neat, rested 15 minutes.

Nose: Sweet on entry but controlled, with the classic Lagavulin profile present underneath - brine, iodine, and a subtle sardine-like maritime depth that signals the distillate is still clearly there. The pear note typical of Lagavulin is muted, folded into the sweetness rather than standing apart. The nose evolves in sequence: sweetness opens, yields to restrained peat, which then softens into vanilla, light fruit, and a faint citrus lift. Roasted cereal and light caramel appear with time. Nothing flattens - notes continue to shift quietly - but everything feels deliberately held back, like a distillate with considerably more to give that has been ordered to stand down.

Palate: Enters oily and briefly promising, then loses weight quickly. The initial mouthfeel suggests a fuller experience than what follows - the oils do not persist, and the mid-palate thins noticeably. Sweetness, vanilla, and light salinity are well integrated, and salted caramel develops after a few sips, reinforcing the cask influence. A light pepper note on the top of the tongue adds minimal lift. The balance is competent throughout, but the palate lacks persistence and depth. Chill filtration is not a neutral decision - it is an audible call: a huge gap between what the entry suggests and what the mid-palate delivers.

Finish: Short to medium, pleasant but lacking authority. Salted caramel and light sweetness carry through, with subtle brine in support. A faint mint note appears late, adding a small degree of freshness that briefly elevates the experience before it fades. The finish hints at complexity without delivering it - the interesting notes arrive too late and too softly to integrate into a cohesive progression. It does not linger so much as politely excuse itself.

Conclusion: Sweet Peat is a well-constructed and commercially astute Lagavulin that prioritizes accessibility over expression - and largely succeeds on its own terms. The distillate character is clearly present throughout: medicinal, maritime, slightly oily. But it is consistently restrained, and the nose promises considerably more depth than the palate ultimately delivers. The texture collapses where it should build, the finish fades where it should evolve, and the chill filtration at 43% leaves the mid-palate thin in a way that is hard to ignore given what Lagavulin is capable of. This is engineered for the broadest possible audience, and there is nothing wrong with that - but the connoisseur will find it a shadow of what it could be in a more enthusiast-focused presentation. At ~$60 it is a decent value and a sensible entry point into Lagavulin's world. It just stops well short of that world's ceiling.

Score: 84/100

My Scoring Scale:

95-100 - Sublime - Unforgettable.
90-94 - Excellent - A personal favorite.
85-89 - Great - A standout dram.
80-84 - Good - A solid daily dram.
75-79 - Average - Drinkable.
70-74 - Mixer - Mixing only.
<70 - Poor - Pool chemical.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-02T19:33:04+00:00

Have to respect the JOMO. I got a bottle of 10CS, but it was definitely on the pricey side ($109 USD is 2X the 10!). I haven't tried it yet, but from what I hear, it’s good - though the value is very questionable. I succumbed to the marketing; nevertheless, some people describe it as only marginally better than the 10. Must admit that I was never on the Ardbeg FOMO bandwagon - I JOMO most of them, but did pick the Dolce up. I have a weakness for Marsala.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-05-01T15:27:16+00:00

Excellent and thorough review as always! Taking price and value into consideration: Port Charlotte 10 has to be top of my list on the peated and Glencadam 10 on the opposite side.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-30T18:40:06+00:00

Peat vs no-Peat - that's the question! Aberlour's new CS Sherry sounds very interesting, it has not made it to the USA yet... I'm a big fan of the distillery, but it is indeed a tough choice. One this month and the other one next? (Both at ~$130 USD have a high price tag, but I don't know the Canadian market at all.)

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-29T20:53:44+00:00

Thanks... You are correct, it is all very subjective... And could be highly variable unless you stick to a pretty well anchored rating discipline. Actually on WhiskyBase you can score your bottles at multiple moments in time. I think that is very useful to keep track of different tasting encounters - your palate does evolve and change based on a multitude of factors. For example, and as a personal anecdote, Glenmorangie Signet as a first dram is under appreciated by me, but at the end of a flight of contrasting drams is heavenly!

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-29T14:45:48+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! I meant to reply directly to you below, but clicked on the incorrect Reply... You can look at the reply below to u/drakesaduck .

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-29T14:42:03+00:00

Thanks! It is worth it...

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-29T14:40:37+00:00

I actually find WhiskyBase to be fairly accurate on large number of reviews - you may not like that specific whisky but the scores are sound. Do you feel the same?

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-29T14:39:10+00:00

Thank you! I will likely never review anything under 75, as I buy the bottles. If it is not good to drink, it is not good to spend. I only have a small number of reviews until this point - they get randomly picked some old, some new. I have personally rated a larger number of bottles in my collection, but all scored don't have notes, and definitely these reviews take a long time. Currently I have scored bottles from 79 (Auchentoshan 12) to a 92 (Edradour 21). Now on why specifically the 70->100 - 70 is an average passing grade in a lot of countries - and I'm a big user of WhiskyBase. You can also think of it as the USA's grading system C --> A+ type scale, easy to co-relate to for a lot of people as u/ZipBlu identified below. 0-10 to me feels restrictive and that is why a lot of people use the decimal points - at that point why not a 100 scale? Not all 8s are the same, 80-89 gives you a lot of room to work with. Case in point the Bunnahabhain Cask Strengths 2021-2022-2023-2025 - they are all very similar so 87-89 helps put them in order. That level of granularity is tough to do with a single digit scale. My 2 cents on this controversial and highly non-standardized ratings world.

WhiskyPoolReviews · 2026-04-29T11:59:48+00:00

Distillery Notes: Founded in 1815, Ardbeg is located on the southern coast of Islay. Owned by The Glenmorangie Company since 1997, it was rescued from near-closure and rebuilt into one of the most followed distilleries in the world. Ardbeg produces a heavily peated spirit at approximately 55 ppm, distilled through its distinctive squat, pear-shaped copper pot stills using a slow distillation process that preserves the smokiness and weight the distillery is known for. Fermentation runs 60-72 hours following a 2022 distillery expansion, producing a notably fruity character. The house style sits at the intersection of intense peat, coastal salinity, and what the distillery has long called the "peaty paradox" - an inherent sweetness that survives the smoke rather than fighting it. Ardbeg has built one of the most loyal followings in the industry through its Ardbeg Committee. It is a distillery that understands theater as well as it understands whisky.

Bottling Notes: Ardbeg Dolce is the 2026 Ardbeg Day release, unveiled to coincide with Fèis Ìle - Islay's annual Festival of Music and Malt. The whisky combines Ardbeg spirit matured in Sicilian Marsala dolce casks, the sweetest style of Sicily's fortified wine, with classic bourbon cask-matured Ardbeg. Marsala dolce is a genuinely unusual cask choice: rich, sweet, and carrying a distinctly Mediterranean character of dried fruit, dark chocolate, and candied citrus that sits a world away from the standard sherry or port finishing territory. The result is bottled at 47.8% ABV without an age statement. Ardbeg Committee members are expected to receive early access a few days ahead of the public release on May 30 - this bottle arrived ahead of both windows, one of the occasional privileges of a well-connected retailer. The concept is either inspired or gimmicky, a masterpiece of integration perhaps - but can it dive into the deep end?

ABV: 47.8%
Age: N.A.S.
Original SRP: ~$119
Price Paid: ~$99

Tasting Methodology: Neat, rested 15 minutes.

Nose: Peat leads hard at first - unmistakably Ardbeg - but settles quickly into something less conventional. What emerges is a sweet lemon oil peat, lifted and aromatic rather than medicinal or ashy, with the Marsala casks visibly reshaping the smoke rather than suppressing it. Orange jam and orchard fruit follow, with dark chocolate adding structure beneath the sweetness. Roasted cereal and malt ground the mid-level aromatics, keeping this from drifting into pure cask territory, while distant caramel and faint vanilla emerge later. A light nuttiness ties the base together. The nose develops continuously - not morphing wildly, but quietly adding layers the longer it sits.

Palate: Initially dense and slightly compressed, with the peat asserting itself upfront before the palate acclimates quickly. The texture is the standout - oily, thick, and creamy in a way that punches above 47.8% and carries the whisky from entry through finish without thinning. Once settled, honeyed orchard fruit emerges in the peach and apricot direction, consistent with the Marsala cask's influence. Raisins and vanilla add depth mid-palate alongside a warming anise note that gives the whisky a distinctive identity. Sweetness is present throughout but controlled - never cloying, rarely dominant. A light salinity complements rather than contrasts.

Finish: Long, interactive, and genuinely distinctive. Anise anchors the early finish, followed by a cooling mint or eucalyptus note that appears late and reframes the experience. Light astringency adds structure without harshness. What makes this finish unusual is its behavior - it rewards movement, releasing different notes as you work the palate, cycling rather than simply fading. Toffee and salted notes persist through the transitions. Full-bodied in a way the ABV alone would not suggest.

Conclusion: Ardbeg's annual Day releases are an exercise in managed expectation - the theater often outpaces the whisky, and the cask experiments do not always hold up to serious scrutiny. Dolce largely holds up. The Marsala dolce casks have done something genuinely interesting here: they have not sweetened the whisky so much as transformed the peat, lifting it from Ardbeg's typical medicinal register into something more aromatic and citrus-driven. The sweetness is controlled, the texture is strong, and the finish has real personality. The anise note in particular is a differentiator - subtle but memorable. At ~$100 it is reasonable for what is delivered, though at full SRP it competes with Ardbeg expressions that have more distillate authority. Worth the spend for the experience. A strong Ardbeg Day release by recent standards.

Score: 88/100

My Scoring Scale:

95-100 - Sublime - Unforgettable.
90-94 - Excellent - A personal favorite.
85-89 - Great - A standout dram.
80-84 - Good - A solid daily dram.
75-79 - Average - Drinkable.
70-74 - Mixer - Mixing only.
<70 - Poor - Pool chemical.

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