Kilchoman 13 year old Unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butts

Profile: The Kilchoman 13 year old Unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butts at a Glance

• Unpeated - From the very few Kilchoman unpeated casks
• 100% Oloroso Sherry Butts - Full cask maturation
• Kilchoman’s own Barley: 100% Islay Malt
• Islay Single Cask from the very few unpeated casks - Matured for 13 years
• 100% Islay - From Barley to Bottle - Bottled at Cask Strength
• Home of Scotland’s only Single Farm Single Malt
• Exclusive to Germany: Limited Edition of 1,315 Bottles

Portrait: What makes the Kilchoman 13 year old Unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butts so special

Imagine Islay - that wind-swept island where peat is practically served for breakfast. And then Kilchoman comes along, Islay's charming farm distillery, and says: “No peat today, thank you!” This is how a rarity is created, as rare as sunshine in November on the island: the Kilchoman 13 year old Unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butts. Kilchoman is a kind of agricultural unicorn among distilleries. Founded in 2005, it grows its own barley, malts it, distills it, matures it, and bottles it - all on its own farm. 100% Islay, 100% control, 100% pride. Normally, everything there smells of campfires and seaweed - but in a twist of fate (or perhaps the master distiller's), they decided to start a few casks of unpeated whisky. And these few casks are so rare today that you practically need a treasure map to find a bottle. Exactly two of these casks – the venerable Casks No. 563 and 565 from 2012 – were matured for over 13 years in Oloroso sherry butts, casks that had previously held Spanish sherry. The result is a strictly limited edition: only 1,315 bottles, exclusively for Germany, at a proud cask strength of 54.5% ABV. This is therefore less a whisky and more a declaration of love for patience, craftsmanship, and the courage to do the unthinkable on Islay: to use no peat. A rebellious gentleman in a tweed coat, proving that you can make a damn good impression even without smoke – typical Kilchoman.

Distilled: 30.08.2012
Bottled: 15.09.2025
Cask-Nos.: #563 & #565
Outturn: 1.315 bottles

Tasting Notes: This is how the Kilchoman 13 year old Unpeated Oloroso Sherry Butts tastes like

• Nose: Warm aromas of dark caramel and ripe fig rise first, followed by hints of roasted nuts and dried orange peel. Behind these, elegant sherry notes develop with a touch of leather and polished wood – elegant and profound, completely without smoke, but with plenty of character.
• Palate: Velvety and full-bodied with a rich sweetness of raisins, toffee, and candied dates. Spicy oak and a delicate hint of cinnamon provide structure, while subtle notes of mocha and a touch of salted caramel offer balance. A hint of almond and dark chocolate is a reminder that genuine sherry casks were at work here.
• Finish: Long, warm, and harmonious with notes of vanilla, nuts, and slightly tart orange zest. A subtle impression of oak spice and sweet syrup lingers in the aftertaste - a finish that fades as slowly as a sunset over the Islay coast.