Islay distillery Kilchoman has unveiled the first whisky in its new Casado series, celebrating the power of Portuguese wine cask maturation.
The first release in the Casado series (Portuguese for 'marriage') is a limited edition comprising liquid from 38 casks. The spirit was first matured in ex-bourbon barrels for six years, before the 38 specially selected casks were married together for a further two years in 6,000-litre Portuguese red wine vats, finished at two char levels.
This experimentation in maturation vessel follows previous releases from Kilchoman exploring barley varieties and the influence of yeast.
Anthony Wills, Kilchoman's founder and managing director, said: "The red wine marriage gives the whisky layers of red fruit and spices which complement the vanilla and butterscotch influence of the bourbon barrels beautifully."
Tasting notes supplied by the distillery say to expect notes of stone fruits, campfire smoke, and spicy sweetness from the red wine cask maturation.
The family-run Kilchoman distillery, on Islay's west coast, is currently the island's only farm distillery. Established by Wills in 2005, the distillery wanted to take a stripped-back approach to whisky making and to make use of its agricultural heritage through releases such as its 100% Islay range.
The first release in the Casado series (Portuguese for 'marriage') is a limited edition comprising liquid from 38 casks. The spirit was first matured in ex-bourbon barrels for six years, before the 38 specially selected casks were married together for a further two years in 6,000-litre Portuguese red wine vats, finished at two char levels.
This experimentation in maturation vessel follows previous releases from Kilchoman exploring barley varieties and the influence of yeast.
Anthony Wills, Kilchoman's founder and managing director, said: "The red wine marriage gives the whisky layers of red fruit and spices which complement the vanilla and butterscotch influence of the bourbon barrels beautifully."
Anthony Wills with the new Kilchoman Casado
Tasting notes supplied by the distillery say to expect notes of stone fruits, campfire smoke, and spicy sweetness from the red wine cask maturation.
The family-run Kilchoman distillery, on Islay's west coast, is currently the island's only farm distillery. Established by Wills in 2005, the distillery wanted to take a stripped-back approach to whisky making and to make use of its agricultural heritage through releases such as its 100% Islay range.
