1. Kilchoman: they produce everything themself, and its a geat quality product. 2 bruichladdich: a great employer on islay also focussing on the future of the island and its community 3 ardbeg: just great product really
I've tried stuff from all the Islay distilleries except for Bowmore and Caol Ila. So far, my faves are Lagavulin 16, and Port Charlotte 10 (And Bunnahabhain 12, but that's not peated). This one is probably close to the PC10 in terms of how much I dig it. This is the first Kilchomen I've tried. I disagree that it's "entry". I think it's solid, even for experienced folks, though it is a little young/bitey).
Big fan of the 100% Islay barley releases. Have had 8/9/10. There own barley is peated to a lower level than the malt they buy so for me I can taste through the peat to all the other flavors. All there other expressions are made from Ardbeg spec malt from Port Ellen maltings on Islay. Cheers
What ruins their image for me is the artificial color. Appreciating the color of a whiskey is a major part of my tasting experience, and Laga doesn't let me do that the way #Ardbeg and Laphroaig do.
In order: Kilchoman, Bruichladdich then Lagavulin. I have yet to get an expression I don't like from any of these distilleries. My favorite Kilchoman is the Sanaig but I have a small batch release that is a port, bourbon and sherry cask that is pretty spectacular and a close second. Glad you're exploring their offerings. Cheers!
Good review, thanks for posting it. To answer one question: I have not tried any Kilchomins, but that Sanaig sounds very intriguing. To answer your other question: my favorite Islay distillery is Bruichladdich, what with The Classic Laddie, Port Charlotte 10, and Heavily Peated Islay Barley (2012) expressions. My second favorite is Ardbeg.
To be honest I love them all but the one that just has it’s nose ahead of the others is Bruichladdich. Jim McEwan totally transformed the distillery when he was there and Adam Hannett is doing a great job since he took over the reins. The information available on each bottle is amazing and I think the Classic Laddie and Port Charlotte 10 are outstanding. The for the peat monsters there’s the Octomore. Really like the Machir Bay and the cask strength is great. The other for me is the Loch Gorm but think it’s over priced at around £75. Cheers.
My favorite is Bruichladdich. Since I've been watching your channel Bill my palate has expanded😄 and my favorite peated whiskey now is Port Charlotte... It is some tasty juice😂😂
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary you first introduced me to peated whiskey thru Connemara and it was delicious. And then you open me to a whole new world of whiskey. Thank you so much Bill!!!
I have the Kilchoman Sanaig and I think it is truly tasty and delicious! I especially like the ashy and fruity nature of it. If you don't want to spend that much more on a sherried variant I think the Sanaig is definitely worth it. For me it is up there with Ardbeg 10 and Lagavulin 16 in terms of quality, even a bit more complex than those. The neck pour is not that great but let it oxidize a bit and it opens up beautifully.
My all time favorite Kilchoman is the Machir Bay Cask Strength but I also thoroughly enjoy their PX Cask Cask Strength expressions....generally those are single barrel store picks. Slainte.....still using the coin I bought from you at the 2019 Bastard's Ball.....
Ardbeg has to be my favorite, but Bruichladdich gives it a run for its money. My complaint with Bruichladdich is that the really high end stuff like Black Art and Octomore are really hard to find. Do yourself a favor and review one of the Octomores! I've had the 10.1 and the 10 Year that's over 200 PPM.
Tough to choose a favorite Islay distillery, I really like so many of them. I love Laphroaig for the intense smoke, but then Octomore from Bruichladdich takes that smoke way over the top. The more smoke the better! I have only tried 2 Kilchoman whiskys: one was a limited edition I cannot remember, and the other was Machir Bay. I enjoyed the Machir Bay, the smoke was light, but tasted to me like a smoked brisket. This whisky I think would go well with smoked meats.
I really liked this review. It was straight forward and spot on. This is one of my favorite Islay whiskies of all time. Right there with Ardbeg Corryvrecken and Laphroiag CS 10yr #013. It's the bourbon barrel thing and the peat, I also have the 95% bourbon barrel, the Cask Strength and the Impex release 14yr Machir Bay at 53%. I'm still on my 2nd bottle of the regular Machir Bay so I have a ton of joy in store. I am so over the sherry cask craze that so many are on so I had the Sanaig and Loch Gorm and won't buy them again but Machir Bay all the way!!
A surprise to me was the Kilchoman Machir Bay. A Big Ardbeg Uigeadail fan the Machir Bay brings a wonderfully lasting rich peat flavor much like Ardbeg. Kilchoman seems to be on the cusp of exploding onto the Islay scene.
Favorite = Laphroaig. Laphroaig 10, Port Charlotte 10, Lavagulan 16. I was not excited by Machir Bay. I. Opened it tasted it and let it sit for 6 months. With oxidation it has improved a bit. However; I would not purchase it again.
Favourite Kilchoman is the loch gorm Edit: Also the price is not too bad its 90euro's for a bottle off loch gorm so under a 100 euros. I have many great island/Islay scotches under a 100 euros. Almost all off them. Yes octomore and a Bunnahabhain 18y old is over it but what I want to say is you can easely have a collection with under 100eu scotch single malts. Also the machir bay is like 50eu here.
Of the ones I’ve had (which is very limited) I’m inclined to say bruichladdich. Recently got the port Charlotte 10 and love it. I’ve also had the pleasure of having octomore once and well…it’s octomore. Looking forward to trying the classic laddie soon
Bunnahabhain is my favorite Isla. Just became a lover of scotch because of Bunnahabhain 12. The stuff is delicious. I haven’t really tried any other Isla so I guess I can’t really comment lol
Enamoured with scotch whisky single malts from Islay. I am partial to salty peat bombs. LaPhroaig is my favorite Islay distillery. Lagavulin a very close second place.
I have only tried Laphroaig and ardbeg, and it is hard to choose between both, but I will say that I really liked the wee beastie. I really want to try lagavulin but it's always over $115 here. Would like to try bruichladdich too.
Definitely prefer Ardbeg. But actually like all Islay malts. Random order: Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain, Kilchoman. Never had the pleasure of drinking an Octomore though. But I did not especially like other whisky from Bruichladdich/Port Charlotte
I LITERALLY picked up a bottle of this tonight. Wow! What timing! Recommended by The Whiskey Novice, Jim, in N.Ireland. Bill, I've watched your video and will partake of this one later. :). My fav Islay though would be Bunnahabhain ... particularly the 12 & the 18. :)
I can't really pick just one. Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Lagavulin are my top three so far. But Bunnahabhain, Talisker, Caol ila, Bruichladdich and Bowmore are really close.
@@Kvs-vf9nt I've tasted Ledaig 10. That's a really good drop for sure. Very diffrent from the rest of the peated whiskys. I'll definitely want to try Tobermory some day 🤗
@@PezrulezHaakon Yes it certainly is different. But damn it's very good scotch at a very good price. It's my favourite whisky to have a daily dram off. I have still 1 bottle and a half but my unpeated stuff off tobermory is finished and the 3 local shops don't have any. So I gonne have to order online.
Thanks! I'm glad you've been enjoying it. Any whiskies you've bought based off my recommendation? What was the first video you found of mine if you remember?
For me Bruichladdich is the best Islay distillery, since they are the only ones taking the main feature of Islay scotch - peat, to extreme. Once you go Octomore, it's game over.
About midway through trying all the Islay distilleries. Just bought Laga 16, and like many others I'm now a fan. Which I consider a favorite depends on what experience I want more that evening I suppose
Bowmore. Yes, it's colored, yes. it's chill-filtered. But Bowmore's smoke is of a different kind.Laphroig, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Ardbeg: Their smoke is medicinal. Bowmore's smoke is "smoky". I like that.
Update: my store got in Machir Bay, Sanaig, and Loch Gorm, and my wallet is angry with me for getting all three. As your review accurately said, the Machir Bay doesn’t have the sherry-cask-infused notes, but the more oakey notes from the bourbon casks. I found the Machir Bay to be less sweet in a similar way to rye being less sweet than bourbon (and that is not to say Machir Bay is spicy, as it’s not). Some people may enjoy that, and there are times when I might prefer that. Definitely one to try.
@@TheWhiskeyDictionary my Loch Gorm is the 2019, and I’ve heard the 2020 and 2021s are even better. I really like my Loch Gorm. The peat is there but is not overwhelming, and fuses well with the sherry cask notes. My only issue with it is the price, which is $99 pre-tax in my area. I get it that it’s a limited release, but it’s not ‘all that’ much better than the Sanaig at $68 (and IMHO it’s not better than the Sanaig at all). Overall, the Loch Gorm is delicious, but the price may be a sticking point.
A 9 year single cask, bourbon matured was twice the price of this Machir Bay, but totally worth it. One of the best bottles of Single Malt I ever tried, and still own I went thru a bottle of this, Machir Bay at a party before I started my whisky journey, and yes it's ashy and the youth has a bite, but Kilchoman is always a good idea.
machir bay is some good juice ... but it really doesnt compare to the the cask strenght with the sheep wearing xmas hats. i really like kilchoman, but ardbeg still reigns the chamption of islay.
Eww scotch no sir I think you have been mistaken... It's Irish that's the good stuff. All ball busting aside I found a cask strength Irish at total wine the other day I'm pretty hype to try that tonight
Favorite Kilchoman=Sanaig Favorite Islay=Lagavulin Distillers Edition….A-freaking-mazing But I will say that Laphroaig Lore and the Sherry Cask finish are close runner ups
Damn Bill, tough one! I'd have to go with Lagavulin. Ardbeg being a close second! Love both the Corry and the Oogie, hell of a dram! Maybe I'm just a proof whore too... 😅
