Kilchoman Rockside 11 year old

Profile: The Kilchoman Rockside 11 year old at a glance

• New Farm Edition: Successor to the popular "100% Islay" series
• Single Farm Single Malt: Barley sourced exclusively from Rockside Farm
• Aged 11 Years: Matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks
• Lightly Peated: Gentle Islay character with a phenol content of 20ppm
• Field to Bottle: Grown, malted, distilled, and bottled on Islay
• Natural: No added coloring & non-chill filtered

Portrait: What makes the Kilchoman Rockside 11 year old special

Things move to a different rhythm on the Scottish island of Islay. While many distilleries source their raw materials from a wide variety of suppliers, Kilchoman has always pursued an unusually consistent approach: It all begins right on their own doorstep. The barley for the famous "100% Islay" series has been grown at Rockside Farm for over 20 years - and this is precisely where the journey of the Rockside 11 year old begins.

With this bottling, Kilchoman opens a new chapter. The Rockside 11 year old succeeds the "100% Islay" series and remains true to the distillery's philosophy: only barley grown on the estate goes into this single malt. For the Wills family, this marks a special milestone - one they have worked towards with great patience and passion since the distillery was founded in 2005.

The journey from barley grain to bottle is remarkably direct. After harvest, the barley is processed on the distillery's traditional malt floors, lightly kilned using Islay peat, and then distilled in copper stills. A maturation period of at least eleven years follows before the whisky is bottled right on the farm - naturally, without added coloring or chill-filtration. It would be hard to produce a whisky with a stronger regional connection.

The name "Rockside" is also closely linked to the distillery's home. Like the well-known "Machir Bay" or "Sanaig" bottlings, it refers to a location in the immediate vicinity of the distillery. Each of these editions tells a little story about Islay and highlights the close connection between the landscape, agriculture, and whisky production in the region.

Kilchoman also holds the distinction of being Islay’s only “Single Farm Single Malt” distillery. This means that virtually every step of production takes place on the estate itself. Anyone claiming their whisky involves short transport distances might want to take a look at the map of Rockside first - there, the tractor could well be the most important mode of transport in the entire production process.

Tasting Notes: This is how the Kilchoman Rockside 11 year old tastes like

• Nose: Finely balanced with gentle smoky notes, accompanied by tropical fruits, a fresh citrus note, and subtle spicy accents.
• Palate: Harmonious and well-balanced, featuring light peat smoke, hints of tropical fruit, a pleasant citrus sweetness, and complex spicy notes.
• Finish: Medium-long to long, with gently fading smoke, fruity nuances, and a finely spiced warmth.