🥃 Kilchoman

Kilchoman is a farm distillery and brand of peated single malt whisky in the northwest of the island of Islay, near Machir Bay. It was founded by Anthony Wills and remains independent and family-owned. Production began in 2005, and Whiskypedia calls it the first new distillery on the island in more than 124 years.

History. Wills had spent eight years running his own company that bottled single-cask single malts, and he conceived the idea of a small farm distillery. Rockside farm was chosen for its suitable buildings and for its barley, which is considered among the best on the island. Production began in 2005, three years after the first plans, and the first release, a three-year-old spirit, came out in September 2009. The family bought Rockside farm in 2015, and the distillery is expanding.

How it is made. This is a farm distillery: the barley is partly grown on Rockside land and malted on site on its own floors. According to Difford's Guide, about 30% of the spirit is made from its own barley, and the rest of the malt comes from Port Ellen Maltings on the island. The brand calls its 100% Islay release the whisky made entirely on the island, from growing the barley to bottling.

Casks and range. According to Difford's Guide, about 80% of the whisky is matured in refill bourbon casks from Buffalo Trace and about 20% in fresh oloroso sherry casks. The core version is Machir Bay, 46% ABV, with no age statement; Kilchoman describes it as a blend of whiskies from bourbon and sherry casks. There are also Loch Gorm, Coul Point and 100% Islay releases.

Why this matters to you. The "100% Islay" label means the barley was grown on the island, not just that the whisky was made there. By law, Single Malt is whisky from one distillery made from water and malted barley, aged at least 3 years in oak. The age on the label is the age of the youngest whisky in the bottle. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.